The First Lady by Fernando Botero

This splendid work fits masterfully into the Botérisme movement, where the dilation of forms magnifies traditional equestrian scenes. Through the composition titled “The First Lady”, the famous artist Fernando Botero reinvents the court portrait with a unique tropical verve. This creative approach celebrates the opulence and dignity of Latin American figures in a bucolic and solemn context.A proud and corpulent woman rides sidesaddle a powerful dark brown horse with massive hooves. She wears a long draped dress of a delicate salmon pink, complemented by immaculate white gloves and elegant red shoes. A yellow and orange official sash, adorned with a large floral rosette, crosses her chest with nobility. With her raised right hand, she wields a fine black riding crop, while her round face displays a serious and concentrated pout. The background is completely saturated with immense soft green banana leaves that beautifully frame the equestrian scene under a clear sky. The uniform light softly sculptures the perfect roundness of the volumes.The artist’s excellence shines through in the silky treatment of the textiles and the fluidity of the curved lines. His absolute mastery of oil painting allows him to give a physical weight and a stunning sculptural presence to this monumental equestrian figure.