Francesco Fanelli, the Florentine sculptor, is known to have worked in Genoa and later in England until 1642. At this date he left for Paris, and died in 1665. He appears to have specialised in small scale and darkly patinated bronzes, primarily of equestrian subjects.

In England, Fanelli was in the employment of Henry, Prince of Wales, and thence also of Charles I, for whom he is recorded to have designed a fountain at Hampton Court. At present his only signed work is a bronze portrait bust of Charles II as Prince of Wales at Walbeck, dated 1640 and made for the Earl of Newcastle.

Examples of Fanelli's equestrian groups are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and in the collection of the Duke of Portland. Fanelli's horses belong to the tradition of Giambologna and Susini equestrian models, though they explore a new naturalism and sprightliness.
The present model is close to examples of Fanelli's Walking Horse, one in the collection of the Duke of Portland and another sold in these rooms on 8 December 1987, lot 162. The Walking Horse in the collection of the Duke of Portland stands on a naturalistic base, as do several other of Fanelli's models. The present example, however, is detached from such a base, similar to the group of Nessus and Deianeira in the Victoria and Albert Museum. It also displays the presence of a bridle and saddle, carefully buckled to the horse, which is an unusual elaboration. This is a fine cast with carefully chiselled mane and head, close to Francesco Fanelli's hand.