C.B. Fish | Cobweb

This oil on canvas by C.B. Fish, titled “Cobweb,” presents a finely rendered portrait of a trotter captured with clarity, structure, and elegance. Fish’s steady, controlled brushwork highlights the horse’s musculature, stance, and alert expression, offering a dignified portrayal consistent with 19th-century American sporting art. The composition centers the trotter with understated drama, allowing its strength, posture, and character to speak for themselves.

Signed by the artist in the lower left corner.

C.B. Fish was an American artist active in the late 19th century, recognized for equine portraits and racing scenes. Though not widely documented in major institutional archives, his paintings have appeared through respected auction houses such as Christie’s, Bonhams, and Skinner, indicating ongoing interest among collectors of historic American sporting art. His works circulate primarily within private equestrian collections, sporting-art dealers, and regional historical societies that preserve 19th-century American horse-racing heritage. Paintings like “Cobweb” reflect Fish’s ability to capture not only anatomical accuracy but also the individuality of notable trotters — a quality that continues to appeal to collectors with an appreciation for America’s equestrian traditions.