This original mid-20th-century equestrian racing painting by Tony Gilligan showcases a dynamic and expressive depiction of harness racing, rendered in bold colors and sweeping gestural strokes. Acquired in Europe and painted in vibrant oil on canvas, the piece embodies the energetic spirit of vintage sporting art, blending expressionist movement, Fauvist color, and mid-century modern style.
Gilligan’s stylized horses and jockeys charge forward with palpable motion, making this artwork a striking focal point for collectors of equestrian art, vintage European paintings, and mid-century decorative interiors. Measuring 36x24 inches, it is ideal for gallery walls, designer spaces, or equestrian-themed environments.
Title (assigned): Charging the Line – Harness Racing Study
Artist: Tony Gilligan
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 36 x 24 inches
Period: Mid-20th Century (c. 1960s–1970s)
Origin: Acquired in Europe
This expressive mid-century sporting painting by Tony Gilligan captures the kinetic thrill of harness racing with bold color, rapid brushwork, and a sense of forward momentum characteristic of post-war European action painting. The composition features five racing horses and drivers, their bodies rendered with exaggerated dynamism, intensified reds, and gestural black outlines. Sweeping strokes in the sky and background create the impression of speed, movement, and adrenaline—placing the viewer directly in the motion of the race.
Gilligan’s palette—earth reds, ochres, and vivid greens—reflects a dramatic Fauvist influence, while the simplified equine anatomy and semi-abstract setting show affinities with expressionist sporting artists active across France, Belgium, and the UK during the 1950s–1970s. The work demonstrates a confident command of color, rhythm, and impressionistic distortion, making it visually striking and highly decorative.
Tony Gilligan is a name documented in the European secondary art market, typically associated with mid-20th-century sporting subjects, particularly horse racing, polo, and equestrian studies. Works attributed to Gilligan appear in regional auctions throughout the UK, Ireland, and parts of Continental Europe. He is recognized for:
Bold, gestural compositions
Expressive color fields
Stylized equestrian forms emphasizing motion and energy
Mid-century modernist techniques blending realism with abstraction
Gilligan’s style suggests influence from post-war European expressionists, particularly those in Paris and Northern Europe who incorporated motion, sporting life, and dramatic brushwork into their compositions.
His paintings circulate primarily in private collections, equestrian clubs, interior-design portfolios, and vintage European estates. Although Gilligan is not widely represented in formal museum literature, his works are considered desirable for collectors of vintage equestrian art, mid-century decorative painting, and sporting genre works.
Tony Gilligan – Charging the Line, Oil on Canvas, 36x24 in., Mid-20th Century
Vibrant European mid-century equestrian painting depicting a dynamic harness-racing scene. Bold, gestural brushwork and expressive color. Signed lower right. Acquired in Europe. Excellent for collectors of sporting and decorative modern art.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Tony Gilligan (European School)
Title: Charging the Line (assigned title)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 36 x 24 inches
Date: Mid-20th Century (c. 1960s–1970s)
Signature: Signed lower right
Origin: Acquired in Europe from an estate collection
Authenticity: This artwork is guaranteed to be an original hand-painted work attributed to Tony Gilligan, based on signature inspection, period materials, and stylistic consistency with documented works circulating in the European secondary market.
European Private Estate Collection (1960s–late 1970s)
European Auction House (unrecorded sale date)
Private Collector (USA)
Current Owner / ArtFind Gallery Documentation
This original mid-20th-century equestrian racing painting by Tony Gilligan showcases a dynamic and expressive depiction of harness racing, rendered in bold colors and sweeping gestural strokes. Acquired in Europe and painted in vibrant oil on canvas, the piece embodies the energetic spirit of vintage sporting art, blending expressionist movement, Fauvist color, and mid-century modern style.
Gilligan’s stylized horses and jockeys charge forward with palpable motion, making this artwork a striking focal point for collectors of equestrian art, vintage European paintings, and mid-century decorative interiors. Measuring 36x24 inches, it is ideal for gallery walls, designer spaces, or equestrian-themed environments.
Title (assigned): Charging the Line – Harness Racing Study
Artist: Tony Gilligan
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 36 x 24 inches
Period: Mid-20th Century (c. 1960s–1970s)
Origin: Acquired in Europe
This expressive mid-century sporting painting by Tony Gilligan captures the kinetic thrill of harness racing with bold color, rapid brushwork, and a sense of forward momentum characteristic of post-war European action painting. The composition features five racing horses and drivers, their bodies rendered with exaggerated dynamism, intensified reds, and gestural black outlines. Sweeping strokes in the sky and background create the impression of speed, movement, and adrenaline—placing the viewer directly in the motion of the race.
Gilligan’s palette—earth reds, ochres, and vivid greens—reflects a dramatic Fauvist influence, while the simplified equine anatomy and semi-abstract setting show affinities with expressionist sporting artists active across France, Belgium, and the UK during the 1950s–1970s. The work demonstrates a confident command of color, rhythm, and impressionistic distortion, making it visually striking and highly decorative.
Tony Gilligan is a name documented in the European secondary art market, typically associated with mid-20th-century sporting subjects, particularly horse racing, polo, and equestrian studies. Works attributed to Gilligan appear in regional auctions throughout the UK, Ireland, and parts of Continental Europe. He is recognized for:
Bold, gestural compositions
Expressive color fields
Stylized equestrian forms emphasizing motion and energy
Mid-century modernist techniques blending realism with abstraction
Gilligan’s style suggests influence from post-war European expressionists, particularly those in Paris and Northern Europe who incorporated motion, sporting life, and dramatic brushwork into their compositions.
His paintings circulate primarily in private collections, equestrian clubs, interior-design portfolios, and vintage European estates. Although Gilligan is not widely represented in formal museum literature, his works are considered desirable for collectors of vintage equestrian art, mid-century decorative painting, and sporting genre works.
Tony Gilligan – Charging the Line, Oil on Canvas, 36x24 in., Mid-20th Century
Vibrant European mid-century equestrian painting depicting a dynamic harness-racing scene. Bold, gestural brushwork and expressive color. Signed lower right. Acquired in Europe. Excellent for collectors of sporting and decorative modern art.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Tony Gilligan (European School)
Title: Charging the Line (assigned title)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 36 x 24 inches
Date: Mid-20th Century (c. 1960s–1970s)
Signature: Signed lower right
Origin: Acquired in Europe from an estate collection
Authenticity: This artwork is guaranteed to be an original hand-painted work attributed to Tony Gilligan, based on signature inspection, period materials, and stylistic consistency with documented works circulating in the European secondary market.
European Private Estate Collection (1960s–late 1970s)
European Auction House (unrecorded sale date)
Private Collector (USA)
Current Owner / ArtFind Gallery Documentation
