The Household Cavalry has been busy, and very much in the public eye of late. Many of them have been serving their country in Afghanistan but the mounted regiment also found time to wow the crowds at last year’s royal wedding and will be playing a huge part in HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. These 12 months stand out even in such a distinguished 350 year history.
During the royal wedding last year three artists were given unparalleled access to the preparation and pageantry involved in the HCMR’s ceremonial duties and have produced an awe inspiring body of work.
Daniel Crane is one of the best sporting artists working today and a master of horse painting. His paintings of HCMR reach beyond the spectacle of Horse Guards and share a rare intimacy with the subject. Duties Done (right) is a beautiful example of the private relationship between horse and man, away from the noise and strictures of their regimental duty. Very much like his treatment of sporting subjects Daniel wanted to “Focus not only on the
ceremonial occasion itself but also behind the scenes. The suppressed air of
orderly excitement as the officers and troopers assemble and take their places,
the Commanding Officer’s inspection before the Royal Wedding, or a warm moment
between a trooper and his mount”
Tom Hoar is a talented young artist who has previously produced a series of paintings of the Buz Khasi in Afghanistan and London architecture, the HCMR neatly connects these two. Tom relished the opportunity “to experience the atmosphere, the reality and the humanity of army life and to explore the real character and spirit beneath this most public of regiments.”
The third featured painter is equestrian artist is Katie Scourgie. Katie worked to capture the energy of Regimental occasions from The Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle to the Beating Retreat.
With over 40 paintings and sketches being exhibited this exhibition represents a hugely important body of work. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Dan Hughes believes it will “reincarnate and capture the glorious colours and movements of horse and soldier on canvas once more, for the first time in 150 years, we have reinvigorated a great British tradition of martial art”.
In addition to it’s artistic significance the exhibition, generously sponsored by solicitors Child & Child will launch a new military charity, The Household Cavalry Foundation.
The Foundation will offer support to Household Cavalrymen and their families, both serving and retired as well as the needs of operational casualties. Not forgetting the unbreakable bonds between the Cavalryman and his charger, the charity will also provide support for horse welfare.
This is a wonderful opportunity to feast your eyes, support the troops and do your bit for animal welfare. Never mind Damian Hirst, The Best of British: The Household Cavalry in Action Art Exhibition must be the most important art view this year.
The exhibition can be viewed between 1400h and 1700h 23rd-27th April 2012 at Hyde Park Barracks, Knighsbridge SW7 1SE
Admittance on production of photo I.D. A donation to the Foundation is encouraged.
All works will be for sale, with proceeds to be donated to the Household Cavalry Foundation
Greetings cards are also available 
