George Ford Morris was a painter, printmaker, sculptor and illustrator, who specialized in painting famous horses, their owners and riders. Born in Missouri, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Académie Julian in Paris. He wrote and illustrated Portraitures of Horses and George Ford Morris Animals, the latter of which was published for three consecutive years and bound in Christmas issues of The American Horseman. In addition to being a regular contributor to equestrian and racing magazines, he illustrated for Century and Scribners.

The following biography of George Ford Morris appears on the original label of the publisher, Associated American Artists:

“George Ford Morris is unquestionably one of the leading portrayers of animals. At sixteen he was an illustrator for the authoritative magazine, ‘The Horseman,’ and at seventeen, he was known as that brilliant young animal artist whose illustrations appeared regularly in ‘The American Sportsman,’ ‘Breeder’s Gazette,’ ‘The Trotter and Pacer,’ and ‘The Western Horseman.’

He was a Founder Member of the American Animal Artists Association and was a past Chairman and President.