More on Aethelflaed’s Horse

Onward and forward, as my Grandad used to say!

I want to make Aethelflaed’s horse contrast with William’s in more than just colour, so instead of doing dapples, I’m just going to have the horse smooth of coat and light of colour.

I got a little adrift earlier with the horse’s eyes, and I’m a bit unsure about whether I have enough of the lighter blue, but I think it’s going to work reasonably well. I can probably add more if I need to when the whole thing is finished and I am trying to balance the whole thing.

Here we are, then, with the horse filled in and the eyes more Opus-style. I get rather the feeling that this horse may be the “getting there under my own steam” steed, but it’s a bit of a ham, high-stepping, head up, adding to its rider’s mystique.

That, of course, is no bad thing. A ruler of the early medieval period needed to have some grip on self promotion, as well adjudicating when their people turned to them, choosing when to make peace and how to make war. Aethelflaed must have understood how to craft her presentation, for the benefit of Mercia as much as herself.

The Irish Chronicles mentions of Aethelflaed are full of superlatives, so my depiction needs to offer some impression of that glowing prestige, reaching across the Irish Sea.

Even if her brother Edward the Elder’s chroniclers don’t mention her at all. Jealous, much?

Anyway, body in place, on to mane and tail!