What defines 19th-century British sporting and equestrian art?

British sporting art from the 19th century focuses on rural pursuits, horses, hounds, and livestock. Artists emphasized anatomical accuracy, narrative stable scenes, and landscape settings tailored to country patrons.

What traditional materials were used in Victorian oil paintings?

Paintings from this era were typically rendered in oil paints on natural linen or cotton canvas stretched over wooden frames. They were frequently housed in gilded composition frames or figured timber mouldings with gilt inner slips.

How can you identify authentic 19th-century oil paintings?

Authentic period paintings display natural age-related craquelure across the paint surface, surface oxidation, and age darkening on the reverse of the canvas or wooden stretcher. Inspection of hardware, stretcher joints, and brush technique helps verify age.

How do you style an antique equestrian painting in a modern interior?

Traditional sporting art works well as a focal point above a fireplace mantel, within a wood-panelled study, or positioned over a credenza to add warmth, narrative detail, and historic texture to modern rooms.

How should an antique oil painting be cared for and preserved?

Display oil paintings away from direct sunlight, heating vents, and extreme humidity fluctuations. Clean gently using a soft, dry camel-hair brush to remove dust, and consult a professional conservator for varnish restoration or canvas repair.

for sale €4,563 $4,953

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Maple Framed Oil Painting

Victorian Equestrian Artwork

Antique Animal Portrait Painting

Id #SA736355

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Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr

Name: Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA736355
Price: 3900 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Benton Fine Art

Description

John Ferneley Jnr

British, (1815-1862)

Horse & Groom in a Stable

Oil on canvas, indistinctly signed

Image size: 18.75 inches x 23.25 inches

Size including frame: 23.5 inches x 28 inches

Provenance: The Parker Gallery, Berkeley St., London

A mid-19th century sporting painting of a horse and groom in a stable by John Ferneley Jnr. A stable hand is depicted in the middle of a stall grooming a bay horse. Nearby, a tabby cat can be seen resting on table whilst a small black and tan dog wanders by a door to the left.

John Ferneley Junior was born in 1815, at Melton Mowbray, the son of the sporting artist John E Ferneley (1782-1869) and his first wife Sarah. His brother Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822-1892) and sister Sarah Ferneley (1811-1903) also became artists.

He lived with his family at Elgin Lodge, in Melton Mowbray and was taught art by his father who became a great influence on his work. John Ferneley Snr would take him on painting trips to London as well as Durham and York. By 1839, he had left Leicestershire and moved to Malton in North Yorkshire to set up on his own, in part prompted by the number of patrons in the area.

In addition to painting sporting scenes and horse portraits for wealthy landowners he also produced a series of paintings for the 7th (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards and the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. Later on, he moved to Hulme near Manchester where he married Rachel Strickland on 3 November 1846. After the death of his first wife, he married Mary Wilcox (nee Jones) a widow from Cheshire on 21 October 1856. Together they lived at 7 Barrack Street, Hulme where he was to remain for the rest of his life.

He died in Manchester on 10 September 1862 just two years after his father. Examples of his paintings are held in public collections including the Leicestershire Museums Trust, National Trust, Tate, The Whitaker and York Army Museum.

Presentation: The painting is housed in a period bird’s eye maple frame with gilt slip, which is in good condition. The reverse bears a label for the Parker Gallery, a firm of picture and print dealers founded in 1750. During the late 1920’s they were based at 28 Berkeley Square, London but by 1937 had moved to 2 Albemarle Street. From the early 80’s they were based were once again in Berkeley Street.

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

© Benton Fine Art

Physical Dimensions

Height

59.5cm (23.43")

Width

71cm (27.95")

Depth

3.5cm (1.38")

Declaration

Benton Fine Art has dated this Antique Horse Oil Painting to the 1850s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA736355

Dealers Notes

Members of the British Antique Dealers Association (BADA) the London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association (LAPADA).

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Viewing is by APPOINTMENT ONLY. However, we can also arrange for you to view the item in your home, depending on the location.

For a wider range of stock please visit www.bentonfineart.com.

If you would like to purchase this item or have any questions, please email us at pictures@bentonfineart.com or call 07710 540549.

© Benton Fine Art

Description

John Ferneley Jnr

British, (1815-1862)

Horse & Groom in a Stable

Oil on canvas, indistinctly signed

Image size: 18.75 inches x 23.25 inches

Size including frame: 23.5 inches x 28 inches

Provenance: The Parker Gallery, Berkeley St., London

A mid-19th century sporting painting of a horse and groom in a stable by John Ferneley Jnr. A stable hand is depicted in the middle of a stall grooming a bay horse.

“

Nearby, a tabby cat can be seen resting on table whilst a small black and tan dog wanders by a door to the left.

Benton Fine Art

fig 1. A 19th-century equestrian oil painting depicting a groom attending to a chestnut horse inside a stable interior, framed in a wide figured timber frame. — fig 1. Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr

John Ferneley Junior was born in 1815, at Melton Mowbray, the son of the sporting artist John E Ferneley (1782-1869) and his first wife Sarah. His brother Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822-1892) and sister Sarah Ferneley (1811-1903) also became artists.

fig 2. A 19th-century equestrian oil painting depicting a groom attending to a chestnut horse inside a stable interior, framed in a wide figured timber frame. — fig 2. Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr

He lived with his family at Elgin Lodge, in Melton Mowbray and was taught art by his father who became a great influence on his work. John Ferneley Snr would take him on painting trips to London as well as Durham and York. By 1839, he had left Leicestershire and moved to Malton in North Yorkshire to set up on his own, in part prompted by the number of patrons in the area.

fig 3. A 19th-century equestrian oil painting depicting a groom attending to a chestnut horse inside a stable interior, framed in a wide figured timber frame. — fig 3. Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr

In addition to painting sporting scenes and horse portraits for wealthy landowners he also produced a series of paintings for the 7th (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards and the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. Later on, he moved to Hulme near Manchester where he married Rachel Strickland on 3 November 1846. After the death of his first wife, he married Mary Wilcox (nee Jones) a widow from Cheshire on 21 October 1856. Together they lived at 7 Barrack Street, Hulme where he was to remain for the rest of his life.

fig 4. A 19th-century equestrian oil painting depicting a groom attending to a chestnut horse inside a stable interior, framed in a wide figured timber frame. — fig 4. Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr

He died in Manchester on 10 September 1862 just two years after his father. Examples of his paintings are held in public collections including the Leicestershire Museums Trust, National Trust, Tate, The Whitaker and York Army Museum.

fig 5. A 19th-century equestrian oil painting depicting a groom attending to a chestnut horse inside a stable interior, framed in a wide figured timber frame. — fig 5. Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr

Presentation: The painting is housed in a period bird’s eye maple frame with gilt slip, which is in good condition. The reverse bears a label for the Parker Gallery, a firm of picture and print dealers founded in 1750. During the late 1920’s they were based at 28 Berkeley Square, London but by 1937 had moved to 2 Albemarle Street. From the early 80’s they were based were once again in Berkeley Street.

fig 6. A 19th-century equestrian oil painting depicting a groom attending to a chestnut horse inside a stable interior, framed in a wide figured timber frame. — fig 6. Sporting Animal Oil Painting of a Horse & Groom in a Stable by John Ferneley Jnr

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