19th Century Antique Painting of Jockeys in Action by Giacomo Varese

A wonderfully animated oil on canvas depicting jockeys in full flight, the horses thundering forward with such momentum that one almost feels the rush of wind across the track. The scene is full of movement and character, the riders leaning into the race while the horses themselves are rendered with an almost playful vitality. Their lively expressions and slightly exaggerated gestures lend the composition a touch of humour and lightness, giving the work a spirited charm.

The painting is signed in the lower corner by Giacomo Varese (1815–1892) and is presented in its original giltwood frame.

When we first encountered the piece, the image was almost hidden beneath decades of darkened varnish and surface grime. The scene appeared rather mysterious, with many of its details difficult to discern. After careful professional restoration, the painting has undergone a remarkable transformation. The cleaning revealed an unexpectedly vibrant palette: bright racing silks, warm earth tones of the track, and the beautifully animated horses now fully visible once again. What was once a rather shadowy composition has returned to life with striking colour and clarity.

Giacomo Varese was a Ligurian painter who is primarily known for his landscape works. He studied under the Genoese stage designer and painter Michele Canzio, an influential figure in the artistic circles of Genoa during the nineteenth century. Varese became a member of the Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti in 1838, where many artists of the region developed their careers. While landscapes formed the core of his oeuvre, works such as this demonstrate his versatility and his ability to capture movement and atmosphere with a freer, more expressive brushstroke. The somewhat looser handling seen here suggests the work may have been painted later in his career.

The painting has been professionally cleaned and conserved by a restorer affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. During the conservation process, a small tear in the canvas was also carefully treated and stabilised. Documentation of the restoration can be seen on the reverse of the painting.