Alexey Stepanovich Stepanov was a Russian painter and graphic artist who worked mainly in the genres of landscape and animalier art.

The artist was born in Simferopol in 1858. His father was a nobleman by birth, a military officer, and a participant in the Crimean War. Alexey Stepanov studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. One of his teachers was Illarion Mikhailovich Pryanishnikov. In 1884, for his graduate work “Father and Son, or a Military Conversation” Alexey Stepanov was awarded the Grand Silver Medal and the title of class artist.

While still a student, he started regularly participating in exhibitions. Later, he joined the Society for Traveling Art Exhibitions and co-founded the Union of Russian Artists. He also taught the class of animalistic painting at his alma mater.

Nowadays, Alexey Stepanov’s works are kept at the State Tretyakov Gallery, in regional museums, small art galleries throughout Russia, and private collections.

Impeccably conveying the condition of animals, the artist always strove to improve the depiction of animal figures and individual details, constantly making sketches from different angles. By using his sketches, he was able to demonstrate the condition and habits of animals in his paintings.

The study “Breaking the Horse” depicts a winter genre scene. In the foreground, a gray horse harnessed to a light sleigh runs swiftly. The horse-breaker leans back and pulls in the reins, trying to restrain its frantic running. The other man rides his sorrel horse galloping in line with the first one, trying to distract and calm the frightened animal. The rapid movement is emphasized by the waving tail, snow flying from under the hooves and skids, and the blurry image. The static figure of a horse keeper, calmly observing the process, suggests that the situation is not dangerous and that the high-spirited young horse will soon get used to it.