Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A.

Spink & Son Ltd., London;
Private Collection

STRUCTURE This watercolour is in very good condition with bright colours throughout and no visible damages. There are no signs of staining or foxing. The paper is undulating a little in the frame and may benefit from being flattened by a paper restorer. FRAME This picture is under glass and contained in a plaster moulded frame with a clean canvas mount.
"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."

Munnings visited the Ringland Hills in 1910 travelling in a blue gypsy caravan accompanied by his entourage of Shrimp, his groom Bob, and a motley collection of ponies to serve as models. In his autobiography he recalls the area; "...on the west side of Norwich...situated in one of the loveliest districts of all the pleasant country surrounding that old city.  Although only six to eight miles away, with little perceptible variation, their serenity was unbroken, their peace continuous and unalloyed, the inhabitants living on in the same unaltered way of life, toiling and resting, their quietude as yet undisturbed by motor horn or sound of tractor..." (Sir Alfred Munnings, An Artist's Life, 1950).

This setting provided extraordinary inspiration for Munnings and resulted in some of his finest rural subjects such as The Coming Storm (1910, private collection) Ponies in a Sand Pit, Ringland Hills, Norfolk (1911, The Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum) and Fetching the Brown Pony (1911, The Sir Alfred Munnings Museum). This rich vein of work celebrates the idyllic, rolling landscape as the horse and foal progress through the hills of flowering gorse.

We are grateful to Lorian Peralta-Ramos for her assistance in cataloguing this work which will be included in her forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Sir Alfred Munnings' work.