This panoramic narrative, titled ‘A Sorrel Horse Don’t Have White Hoofs,’ pays homage to Tom Lea’s distinctive storytelling through art, as featured in the Saturday Evening Post on December 27, 1941. The painting, housed in the museum since its donation by Mr. Erwin H. Hill in 1975, illustrates a vivid tableau influenced by Lea’s detailed description given in 2000.
It showcases a young man from Fabens at the composition’s heart, a nod to the vibrant local culture and Lea’s insightful character studies. The figure of Carl Hertzog, a renowned printer and Lea’s confidant, rendered in a striking leather jacket, anchors the narrative to the left. This expansive piece is created with a harmonious blend of watercolor and ink,
bridging historical homage with contemporary artistry.