J Mortimer, Pony & Trap with Rider, Naive, Provincial Antique Oil Painting

19th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

A 19th-century oil on canvas depicting a trotting pony pulling a trap with a seated rider. After hours of research, we’re still undecided on what’s happening in this painting, but here’s what we do know.

The rider is sitting within a single-seater trap, so he’s travelling alone and with no luggage. He’s wearing riding gear rather than an outfit a gentleman would wear on a day out. The pony has a clipped tail, which was common for racehorses but also for ponies pulling traps. In the distance, there’s a building with signage and stables, so perhaps it’s a coaching inn. The rider's high upright sitting position is probably unsuitable for racing.

So at this point, our best guess is that this is a depiction of a Victorian messenger taking correspondence between two locations. But when we learn more, we’ll update this description accordingly.

If you would like to share your views on this interesting provincial painting, please do get in touch.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Size including frame: 31” x 22¾” / 79cm x 58cm x 5cm

Year of creation: c. 1860

Condition: Good overall condition. Relined and restored within the last 50 years. Frame with a few minor losses.

Physical Dimensions

Height

58cm (22.83")

Width

79cm (31.10")

Depth

5cm (1.97")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA617193

Description

A 19th-century oil on canvas depicting a trotting pony pulling a trap with a seated rider.

“

After hours of research, we’re still undecided on what’s happening in this painting, but here’s what we do know.

Brave Fine Art

fig 1. J Mortimer, Pony & Trap With Rider, Naive, Provincial Antique Oil Painting — fig 1. J Mortimer, Pony & Trap with Rider, Naive, Provincial Antique Oil Painting

The rider is sitting within a single-seater trap, so he’s travelling alone and with no luggage. He’s wearing riding gear rather than an outfit a gentleman would wear on a day out. The pony has a clipped tail, which was common for racehorses but also for ponies pulling traps. In the distance, there’s a building with signage and stables, so perhaps it’s a coaching inn. The rider's high upright sitting position is probably unsuitable for racing.

fig 2. J Mortimer, Pony & Trap With Rider, Naive, Provincial Antique Oil Painting — fig 2. J Mortimer, Pony & Trap with Rider, Naive, Provincial Antique Oil Painting

So at this point, our best guess is that this is a depiction of a Victorian messenger taking correspondence between two locations. But when we learn more, we’ll update this description accordingly.

If you would like to share your views on this interesting provincial painting, please do get in touch.