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"Composition Study" May 1, 1937 (105)

"Head of a Horse" dated May 2, 1937 (106) and (107)

Picasso's “Horse,” (104) must have been bred from Rembrandt's "Ass of Ballam" (104A). This work influenced a "Composition Study" (105) and two studies titled "Head of a Horse" (106) and (107).

Picasso's "Composition Study for Guernica" (Arnheim #6) of May 1, 1937, (105) has many elements which were derived from Ingres's "Venus Wounded by Diomedes" (111A). The bull is a composite of the horses. A dark shadow behind the ear of one horse is the right eye of the bull. The left eye of the front horse is the left eye of the bull. Front and back contours and front legs of the horse in (111A) and the bull in (105) match exactly. The streamlined head of a woman looking out the window in (105) was constructed from the woman and the wings in (111A). The forehead of the standing woman is the nose, and her neck, the chin. The horse was formed from the oval shape of the shield and the clouds in (111A). The right front leg of the horse follows the rim of the chariot wheel continuing up the chariot's side contour, defining the front and neck of the horse. The left leg of the horse projects out like the chariot's handle. The left leg of Venus completes the horse's leg. The hind end of the bull is found under the arm of Venus. The head of Picasso's fallen warrior is formed in the clouds ending at the right armpit of the fallen warrior in the painting by Ingres. Notice the dark arcs in the clouds which Picasso used as eyes.

Picasso saw the form of his Pegasus, the little flying horse, coming from the side of the wounded horse by imagining this creature in shapes that he found between the snake on the shield and a dark shadow adjoining the clouds in (111A).

"Guernica” composition study (108)

On this same day, Picasso maintained his association with Rembrandt whose "Rape of Proserpine" (108A) could have provided Picasso with the horse and the head of the bull (108) which he might have adapted from the decorative

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