Sir Alfred Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. 1878-1959

Commissioned by William Waldorf, 2nd Viscount Astor, and thence by direct family descent to the present owner

Venice, XXII Biennale Internazionale d’Arte di Venezia, British Council Fine Arts Committee, 1940, no.142 (as Quick Rise and Short Story and Foals);
London, Sotheby's, An English Idyll - A Loan Exhibition of Works by Sir Alfred Munnings, 2001, no.94, p.152, illustrated in colour in the exhibition catalogue.

This study, which relates to A Summer Evening: Lord Astor at the Cliveden Stud, 1939 shown at the Royal Academy in 1943 (no.63), depicts Quick Rise with her foal Niblick and Short Story with Pigtail. One of the greatest owner-breeders of the first half of the 20th century, William Waldorf 2nd Viscount Astor (1879-1952) produced winners of eleven Classic races between 1917 and 1945, only failing to secure a Derby winner, though he had the runner-up on five occasions. Short Story is also the subject of Early Morning on Manton Downs' (sold in these rooms, 27th November 2003, lot 35) where she appears with Alec Taylor, the trainer of all Lord Astor's horses.

Another study of mares and foals, which may be related to the present work, was shown at the Royal Academy in 1943 (no.396).