19th-century British Folk Art, Harness Racing - Antique Oil Painting

Name: 19th-century British Folk Art, Harness Racing - Antique Oil Painting
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA999147
Availability: SoldOut

19th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This late 19th-century naive British oil painting depicts a scene from a harness race. It’s signed ‘E T Noll’.

Sitting somewhat precariously atop a ‘high-wheeled sulky’, a rider, wearing a light blue jersey, grapples with the reins of a trotting horse. Beyond him, a large oval track is peppered with onlookers.

Harness Racing has been a popular sport in the United Kingdom for over 100 years. Its origins are unknown but date back many centuries with the earliest ‘trotting races’ taking place in Holland. Some say that it began with competitive postal workers racing their horses all over the country. While others believe it was instigated by villagers rushing home from church. Either way, during the 19th century, it captured the British imagination and the worthiest of winners were immortalised in paint and print.

Over the years, the sulky (on which the rider sits), was adapted with the addition of bicycle wheels, which led to it becoming smaller and closer to the ground. But here, we see the high-wheeled version - dramatic and rather dangerous. These larger wheels would’ve been around five feet in diameter and weighed 100 pounds.

Signed/inscribed/dated lower left and held within a period gilt frame. The inscription refers to a Royal Academy award.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 38” x 27½” / 96cm x 70cm

Year of creation: 1882

Condition: Artwork presents well. Canvas relined. Old repairs. Frame with some light wear.

Physical Dimensions

Height

70cm (27.56")

Width

96cm (37.80")

Depth

6cm (2.36")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA999147

Description

This late 19th-century naive British oil painting depicts a scene from a harness race. It’s signed ‘E T Noll’.

“

Sitting somewhat precariously atop a ‘high-wheeled sulky’, a rider, wearing a light blue jersey, grapples with the reins of a trotting horse.

Brave Fine Art

Beyond him, a large oval track is peppered with onlookers.

fig 1. 19th-Century British Folk Art, Harness Racing - Antique Oil Painting — fig 1. 19th-century British Folk Art, Harness Racing - Antique Oil Painting

Harness Racing has been a popular sport in the United Kingdom for over 100 years. Its origins are unknown but date back many centuries with the earliest ‘trotting races’ taking place in Holland. Some say that it began with competitive postal workers racing their horses all over the country. While others believe it was instigated by villagers rushing home from church. Either way, during the 19th century, it captured the British imagination and the worthiest of winners were immortalised in paint and print.

fig 2. 19th-Century British Folk Art, Harness Racing - Antique Oil Painting — fig 2. 19th-century British Folk Art, Harness Racing - Antique Oil Painting

Over the years, the sulky (on which the rider sits), was adapted with the addition of bicycle wheels, which led to it becoming smaller and closer to the ground. But here, we see the high-wheeled version - dramatic and rather dangerous. These larger wheels would’ve been around five feet in diameter and weighed 100 pounds.