Painting study · Oil painting
The Race Track (Death on a Pale Horse)c. 1896–1908 · Study 1928.8
Albert Pinkham Ryder (American, 1847–1917)
c. 1896–1908
Recorded as oil on canvas, this horizontal work measures 90 × 70.5 cm using the museum’s unframed dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
Ryder’s subject was inspired by a horse race that took place in New York during 1888. One of the artist’s friends wagered $500 on the race and then died by suicide after the horse lost. Medieval symbolism infuses the composition: death appears as a skeleton on horseback holding a scythe with which it cuts down the living, while a snake—a sign of temptation and evil—slithers in the foreground. An intense man, Ryder worked on the painting for several years and was deeply reluctant to part with it.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
Counterclockwise horse racing in the United States was not standardized until the 1920s.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected unframed measurement for The Race Track (Death on a Pale Horse) is 90 cm wide and 70.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 35.4 × 27.8 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.28:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.63 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 30.0% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 105.0 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With The Race Track (Death on a Pale Horse) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 90 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Brick and Mortar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Dominion | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
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