A GREAT BRITISH COLLECTION: The pictures collected by Sir David and Lady Scott, sold to benefit the Finnis Scott Foundation

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Lot 135
  • 135

John Leech

Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • John Leech
  • mr briggs taming a colt which he has bred himself
  • signed l.l.: John Leech; inscribed l.c.: Horse Taming/ Mr Briggs Taming a Colt he has Bred Himself!

  • sketch in oils

Provenance

Hartnoll & Eyre, London, where bought by Sir David Scott, c.1968

Condition

STRUCTURE Original canvas. PAINT SURFACE Light craquelure and suface dirt scattered throughout. Otherwise good general condition. ULTRAVIOLET UV light reveals no visible retouching. FRAME Held in a decorative gold composite frame with some losses to the moulding. Under glass.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

The illustrations of John Leech appeared in the popular journal Punch. Leech learnt to draw at a young age, initially making character portraits of people who came to his father's Ludgate Hill coffee shop.  By 1843 he was sharing the role of Punch cartoonist with Sir John Tenniel, completing some seven hundred and twenty illustrations for the magazine by his death in 1864.

The character of Mr Briggs was invented by Leech in 1849, and is widely considered to be one of the first serialised 'comic book' characters. Briggs was portrayed as an accident-prone and incompetent sportsman, whose forays into the world of riding, racing, fishing and hunting regularly ended in disaster. Here he is seen getting ready to tame his colt, his umbrella and hat have been placed on the manger and it seems that he is really getting down to the task as he slips off his coat. The colt looks equally ready for action.

For more information on John Leech's sketches in oils, see Sotheby's catalogue for 'The Leverhulme Collection', 26-28 June 2001, pp. 453-459.