Sporting Horse Portrait Oil Painting of Bay Hunter in a Stable by Alfred Grenfell Haigh

Alfred Grenfell Haigh

British, (1880-1963)

Braydon

Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1913, further inscribed Braydon

Image size: 22.5 inches x 29.5 inches

Size including frame: 28.5 inches x 35.5 inches

A fine sporting horse portrait of a bay hunter called Braydon by Alfred Grenfell Haigh. The horse is depicted standing with his head slightly turned towards the viewer to reveal a white stripe down his face. In keeping with his use as a hunter of the period, the horse has a bob tail and his coat has been clipped for winter in a traditional hunter clip. This particular clip includes an unclipped saddle shaped patch on his back for cushioning and unclipped legs to protect them during jumping or cross-country work. Braydon’s owner most likely commissioned the portrait in order to commemorate his successes, perhaps before being sold on.

Alfred Grenfell Haigh was born at Leighton Banastre, Parkgate, Cheshire on 28 February, 1870. He was the son of Reginald Haigh, a cotton broker and Flora Masini Grenfell. He was educated at Ellery School in Liscard, Cheshire and later attended the Rossall Art School near Blackpool, where he won prizes for drawing. Haigh then continued his artistic education in Paris. He returned to England where he lived with his family at Leighton, near Neston in Cheshire and began earning his living as an artist. He was a skilled horseman and used his knowledge to paint portraits of horses.

At the age of 30 he moved to Newmarket, long known for horseracing and Tattersalls, the oldest bloodstock auctioneers. His reputation grew and he received many private commissions to paint racehorses from patrons including Lord Rosebery, The Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of Portland and the Aga Khan. He painted portraits of some of the famous racehorses of the day including The Petrarch, Bahram, Manna and Airborne. He also painted a number of polo ponies, hunters and dog portraits.

Haigh married Annie Beatrice Kelk on 18 October, 1904 at St Mary’s in Banbury and the couple lived in Stretchworth near Newmarket where their son Daniel was born in 1906. By 1911, the family had moved to The Cottage in South Cerney, Cirencester. During the 1920’s he lived at 10 Sydenham Villas Road, Cheltenham and later Tetbury. He also made a number of visits to the US to visit one of his brothers who had moved there.

Sometime before 1939, Haigh moved to Cleevestones, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire where he continued to paint, receiving commissions from the Cotswold racing and hunting fraternity. He died in Banbury on 12 October, 1963 aged 93.

Examples of his work can be found at the Leeds Museum, Munnings Museum, National Heritage for Horseracing & Sporting Art and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

Presentation: The painting is housed in an early 20th century gilt frame which is in excellent condition.

Condition: As with all of our original antique oil paintings, this work is offered in ready to hang gallery condition, having been professionally cleaned, restored and revarnished.

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