Benton Fine Art has dated this Antique Equestrian Oil Painting to the 1900s.
British, (1852-1932)
Diamond Jubilee with Jockey Up
Oil on canvas, signed, inscribed & dated 1900
Image size: 19.25 inches x 23.5 inches
Size including frame: 30 inches x 34 inches
Provenance: T Richardson & Co, Piccadilly, London
A bay stallion is depicted standing side on in a landscape, most likely Newmarket Heath, with another racehorse and jockey in the distance. The horse’s head is slightly turned towards the viewer to reveal a white diamond shape mark on his forehead running into a line down his face. On his lower forelegs can be seen leg wraps which were used during training and exercise. Research has identified the jockey as being Herbert Jones, who is depicted wearing Edward, the Prince of Wales’s colours. Diamond Jubilee was a thoroughbred stallion by St Simon out of Perdita, foaled in 1897 at Sandringham. He was bred and owned by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and achieved considerable success for the Prince during his racing career which began in 1899 and lasted until October 1901. In 1900, he won five major races including the Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and St Leger stakes) as well as the Newmarket and Eclipse Stakes. All of these winning races were with Hebert Jones in the saddle.
Alfred Wheeler was born in Cheltenham in 1852, the middle child of the artist John Alfred Wheeler (1821-1903) and his wife Eliza (née Coate). His older brother James Thomas Wheeler (1849-1888) was also an artist. When he was still young, his family moved from Cheltenham to Walcot in Bath where he was baptised along with his younger sister Amelia in 1860.
Wheeler inherited his talent for painting from his father who taught him to paint and greatly influenced his style and subject matter. Like his father, he specialised in sporting art painting horses as well as dogs and often received commissions from important patrons including the Prince of Wales, Baron Rothschild and Lord Rosebery. They were known to work closely together with Alfred contributing to his father’s paintings towards the end of his life. As well as signing his works ‘A Wheeler’ he also signed his works ‘J A Wheeler’ which has sometimes led to his works being confused with that of his father.
In 1874, Wheeler married Catherine Muspratt and they lived next door to his father at Raglan Villas in Bath. Two of their children, Walter Herbert (1868-1960) and John Frederick (1875-1930) also became artists. By the early 1880’s, he had moved with his family to 3 Ivy Cottages in the Hanwell area of London, close to Ealing where his father had also relocated. After the death of his father in 1903, he moved to the family home at Bath Villa, 5 Manor Court Road where the studio was based. He remained living in Hanwell until his death on 27 March, 1932.
Examples of his paintings can be found in various collections and museums including the National Trust and the National Horseracing Museum.
Presentation: The painting is housed in its original gilt frame which is in excellent condition. The reverse bears a label for T Richardson & Co of Piccadilly, London. Thomas Richardson (b.1841) was a fine art dealer and frame maker who worked out of 174 New Bond Street, London from 1879-1894. He founded Thomas Richardson & Co and also had premises at 43 Piccadilly from 1886 until around 1905. A number of exhibitions were held at the Piccadilly gallery.
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.
© Benton Fine Art
Benton Fine Art has dated this Antique Equestrian Oil Painting to the 1900s.
Specialists in 19th & early 20th century original oil paintings by listed artists
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Benton Fine Art Profile Page
Benton Fine Art is a registered member of LAPADA BADA CINOA
Sporting Horse Portrait Oil Painting of the Racehorse Diamond Jubilee with Jockey Up by Alfred Wheeler
