The Sporting Sale including The John Poynton Collection

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Lot 328
  • 328

John Willis Good British, 1845-1879

Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description

  • John Willis Good
  • Before the race and After the race a pair of horse and jockey groups
  • both signed: J Willis Good 1875
  • bronze, dark brown patina, on mottled marblised metal bases

Catalogue Note

Willis Good exhibited these models at the Royal Academy in 1873. They have sometimes been thought to represent Fred Archer on Atlantic before and after winning the 2000 Guineas in 1874. However the exhibition date seems to disprove this suggestion. Nevertheless the immediacy of the portrayal suggests a careful first-hand observation of actual races and Willis Good was known to make horse portraits.

The pair are delicately cast and composed with the respective jockeys and horses echoing each other’s gestures. Before the race both horse and jockey stand erect, calmly preparing for excitement and exertion. After the race the jockey swoops forward as the horse lowers its head and gasps for breath.

See also lots 303 and 329.

RELATED LITERATURE
Graves, p. 264