Visitors to the opera at Glyndebourne are already familiar with the monumental horse-head sculptures by Nic Fiddian-Green that adorn the grounds and surrounding hillsides. Visitors to last week’s Royal Ascot’s meeting had a chance to get to know his work last week.
Last week, The Roman Horse (a 14fthigh construction that was inspired by the sculptures of ancient Rome), Energy (a 15ft bronze that, says the artist, stems from his ‘obsession’ with the ancient Greeks) and Horse at Water (a 13ft bronze) were all installed at the racecourse. Mr Fiddian-Green’s prolific output this year includes the first oversize sculpture of the Iron Duke’s cavalry charger, Copenhagen, ridden in the field of battle at Waterloo in 1815. The 14ft work, War and Peace, is for Wellington College, and will be unveiled at the school on June 29 by the present Duke of Wellington. A substantial installation, the 27ft Fire, will also be on view at Glorious Goodwood (July 31- August 4), and another piece is planned for a major equestrian sporting occasion this summer. In addition, Mr Fiddian-Green’s works are going abroad to Deauville and Philadelphia racecourses.
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Two racing-themed exhibitions are being held in London to coincide with Royal Ascot. Another prolific horse sculptor, Charlie Langton, has a show at the Sladmore Contemporary, 32, Bruton Place, London W1 (until July 20, 020-7499 0365; www. sladmore.com), which will include his sculpture of Yeats, four-times winner of the Ascot Gold Cup. Geoffrey Hughes at the Osborne Studio Gallery, 2, Motcombe Street, SW1 (020-235 9667; www.osg.uk.com) is giving Belgian-born Elie Lambert his first solo exhibition (until July 6). Mr Lambert is a former jockey and bloodstock agent from Deauville.
