Sam Savitt (March 22, 1917 – December 25, 2000) was an equine artist, author, and teacher, as well as an illustrator of over 130 books, in addition to 16 that he wrote. He was designated the official illustrator of the United States Equestrian Team in 1958, and was a founding member of the American Academy of Equine Art in 1980. He created several horse charts that are considered authoritative works and have been used by the Smithsonian Institution.
Career
The New York Times said of his 1956 book Step-a-Bit: The Story of a Foal, that Savitt's drawings had "great charm and spontaneity". That year Savitt was named the official artist of the United States Equestrian Team. Then his book Midnight, Champion Bucking Horse won the Boys Club of America junior book award in 1958. In 1950, he illustrated the seminal book on English equestrianism, Learning to Ride, Hunt, and Show by Gordon Wright. He has also created paintings of horses participating in competitive polo. In addition, his subjects included fox hunting, rodeo, steeple-chasing and show jumping. His 1981 book Draw Horses with Sam Savitt is considered to be a seminal book in equine portraiture. He also did portraits of dogs.
As a writer he wrote sixteen books and co-authored three. In addition, he illustrated more than 130 books by other authors. With his wife, Bette, he opened Black Horse Press in 1963, which sold his charts and reproductions of his pieces. His works have been used as the illustrative basis of home furnishings and décor by various companies.
Later life and death
Savitt died at the age of 83, in 2000.