'Le Rond de Présentation' (Autumn in the Parade Ring) by Yves Fournier (circa 1970s)

'Autumn in the Parade Ring', pastel on art paper, by Yves Fournier (circa 1970s). It's an autumn race day, and the runners are gathering in the parade ring. Stable lads lead the horses round in their numbered saddlecloths while jockeys in bright silks, striped, quartered and spotted, stand in knots with owners and trainers, waiting for the signal to mount. One rider is already up, his orange silks bright against the trees. In the foreground, racegoers in coats and hats stroll along the path to take a closer look, while a bare tree, its last red leaves clinging on, frames the scene from the right.

Fournier builds the picture from quick, loose strokes of pastel, leaving flecks of white paper to catch the light. The palette is autumnal with russet and violet woods under a pale, misty sky, set against the fresh green of the ring and the soft pinks of the gravel path. It's a lively, affectionate picture of the ritual before the race, in the French tradition of racing scenes. The artwork is in good overall condition and is newly framed with a mount and glazed with anti-reflective museum-quality glass. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions with Frame:

H 43.5 cm / 17.1"

W 52.5 cm / 20.7"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 30.5 cm / 12"

W 40 cm / 15.7"

About the artist: Yves Fournier (1917–2016), French figurative painter known particularly for his horse-racing scenes and landscapes, and this pastel is a fine example of the racing subjects for which he was noted.