George Stubbs, A.R.A.

Walter Hutchinson (1887–1950);
His sale ('The Hutchinson Collection of Important Sporting Pictures, Sold by Order of Messrs. Hutchinson & Co'), London, Christie's, 20 July 1951, lot 130;
Acquired by the family of the present owners in the early 1950s;
Thence by descent.

London, Hutchinson House, National Gallery of British Sports and Pastimes, 1948, no. 114. 

J. Egerton, George Stubbs, Painter, New Haven and London 2007, p. 636 (listed under untraced paintings).

The following condition report is provided by Hamish Dewar who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Structural Condition The canvas has an old lining which is still ensuring an even and secure structural support. Paint Surface The paint surface has very discoloured varnish layers. There is evidence of wear and degradation of the paint layers in the darker pigments of the background which is so characteristic of the artist. There is a fine craquelure pattern which is entirely stable in the pale pigments of the horse, which appears to be much better preserved than the background. Inspection under ultra-violet light confirms how opaque and discoloured the varnish layers have become which makes any assessment of the extent of retouching very difficult. There would appear to be extensive retouchings in the background, particularly in the foliage, and vertical lines strengthening the trees in the lower right of the composition. The retouchings would seem to be most concentrated in the dark background above and to the right of the horse and there is also very faint evidence of a band of inpainting running down the left vertical framing edge. This band is approximately 3 cm in width and there is also evidence of old retouching on the lower horizontal framing edge. There would appear to be few retouchings on the horse. Summary The painting is therefore stable and there is evidence of many of the condition issues so often found on paintings by Stubbs but it is encouraging to note that the horse itself seems comparatively well preserved.
"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."

Unknown to Judy Egerton when she compiled her catalogue raisonée of Stubbs’ paintings, other than the reference in Christie’s 1951 sale catalogue, this picture was first recorded in the Hutchinson collection in 1948. Walter Hutchinson, proprietor of the publishing house Hutchinson & Co., was an important collector of British sporting art and founder of the National Gallery of British Sports and Pastimes, housed in Stratford Street, off Oxford Street. His remarkable collection included no less than twelve works by Stubbs, including the famous Gimcrack on Newmarket Heath.¹ Hutchinson’s Magazine was a popular monthly periodical in the 1920s famous for publishing many of the ‘spook stories’ of E. F. Benson, as well as serialising the work of Rider Haggard, Agatha Christie and D. H. Lawrence. In 1929 Hutchinson stopped publishing magazines to focus on books, and in 1930 first published H. G. Wells' The Bulpington of Bulp, inspired by the life of Ford Madox Ford.  

^1. London, Christie’s, 5 July 2011, lot 12.