Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S.

Sir Robert Younger, G.B.E. (by 1921)
Rt. Hon. Lord Blanesburgh, G.B.E., London (by 1928)
Royal Caledonian Schools (bequeathed by the above by 1955)
Sale: Christie's, London, July 18, 1969, lot 23
Richard Green, London
Aquired from the above

Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1918, no. 405, no. 47
London, Alpine Gallery, Pictures of the Belvoir Hunt and Other Scenes of English Country Life, 1921, no. 35
Norwich Castle Museum, Munnings Exhibition, August 16 - September 30, 1928, no. 65
Venice, XVIII Biennial International Art Exhibition, 1932
Bournemouth, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, An Artist's Life, Retrospective Exhibition of Works by Sir Alfred Munnings, K.C.V.O., P.P.R.A., April 2 - September 10, 1955, no 829 (as Marjorie)
London, Royal Academy, Diploma Gallery, Sir Alfred Munnings, 1956, no. 48
New York, Wildenstein, Alfred J. Munnnings: Images of the Turf and Field, April 28 - June 3, 1983, no. 20
Saratoga Springs, National Museum of Racing, The Mastery of Munnings, July 8-September 4, 2000
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, Brandy Wine River Museum, Alfred J. Munnings from Regional Collections, June 7 - September 1, 2008

Pictures of Horses and English Life, 1927, illustrated, pl. 3
Pictures of Horses and English Life, 1939, illustrated opp. p. 80, pl. VI

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting is restored and should be hung in its current condition. This is a complex work for the artist dealing with shadow and light, and he has used glazes, particularly within the horse, to create the right values. These glazes are undamaged, un-abraded and very affective. There are a few spots of retouch on the girl's cheek and neck, but there are no retouches throughout the remainder of the picture. It is not recommended that picture be cleaned or further retouched.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The Newlyn School in Cornwall was a pioneering group of plein-air painters in Britain, and its members were drawn to the area due to its warm climate, inexpensive living and sparkling light. By 1913, when Marjory was painted, Munnings was among the most accomplished artists and his virtuosity is certainly evident in the present work. With his characteristic impressionistic vigor, Munnings has filled the entire composition with subtle and nuanced color, creating an overture of warm greens. His model, calm and composed astride a sturdy dappled grey, is framed by a sparkling curtain of backlit foliage. As Lorian Peralta-Ramos writes: “the poetry of the moment is created by Munnings’ skill at transforming the dispersal of light into an even balance of tone throughout the canvas. The overall glow of light describes the mood and reflects the tranquility of idle summer days” (Peralta-Ramos, The Mastery of Munnings, exh. cat., 2000, p. 27).

Confidently meeting the viewer’s gaze through the shade of the tree’s canopy, it is clear that Marjory is an enigmatic sitter and was extremely captivating. She was a young local Cornish girl whom Munnings used as a model, as did fellow Newlyn artist, Dame Laura Knight, who wrote of Marjory in her memoirs, Oil Paint and Grease Paint (New York, 1936, p. 217).

Please note that this lot is sold unframed.