2: Horses Horses Horses with Hancock
Charles Hancock
Lady Portarlington on a Grey Horse, 1845
Oil on canvas, w142.5 cm x h111.5 cm
National Trust, Mount Stewart, Newtownards in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Relevant:
There are multitudes of horses in paintings, and when combined with portraits they're an animal used overwhelmingly to represent status. For one thing (unless the artist was also sitting on a horse to do the painting), the point of view is usually from head-height off the ground, so putting the sitter on a horse literally puts them 'above' the viewer in the scene. And then it took money to own and maintain horses (not to mention the money it took to commission portraits), so you pretty much get the rich and powerful in scenes like this.
The above mostly follows that, but does include a nice bit of dynamic movement, and the simplified palette + stark background + wisp of brushy veil around the woman's almost-incongruously serene expression actually vibes pretty modern.
NOTES:
Also, if you want a closer look at the rather involved process of riding side-saddle, here's a primer.