Sporting Art sales in New York feature hunting scene masterworks
Frederick Henry Prince, Master of Foxhounds of the Pau Hunt by Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959). Oil on canvas. Christie’s New York Sporting Art sale, Dec. 3. Estimate: $1,200,000-1,800,000.
In November, collectors look to New York to see what Sotheby’s and Christie’s will offer in their sporting art sales. Top collectors in the field will gather to compete for traditional English racing and hunting scenes as well as more contemporary wildlife art works. Sporting art has historically been an internationally competitive field with particularly strong sales in London, Scotland and Ireland; however, Americans now participate with equal enthusiasm and the market for works by European masters such as Sir Alfred Munnings and John Frederick Herring (both British) and Christophe Fratin (French) remains strong here.
Notable highlights this year include the spectacular Frederick Henry Prince, Master of the Foxhounds of the Pau Hunt by Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959) that will be offered at Christie’s on Dec. 3. Munnings’ works are highly sought after by museums and private collectors alike and this picture is sure to garner fierce competition. The highly successful composition depicts a master of foxhounds astride a magnificent gray and white thoroughbred surrounded by a pack of eager hounds on the scent of their quarry. The masterful brushwork for which Munnings has been celebrated achieves the dynamic impression of movement of both the rider and his hounds. The theater the viewer is drawn into is complemented by the atmospheric symphony of grays and blues in the sky and a small but effective slash of green surrounding a distant manor house, all set perfectly behind the eye catching figure of the Master outfitted in his brilliant red riding coat. Undoubtedly a masterpiece of the genre, this oil painting clearly stands out as the major highlight of the two sales and will be offered with an estimate of $1.2 to $1.8 million.
This painting of Frederick Henry Prince by Sir Alfred James Munnings does indeed capture the spirit of the chase. His setting – late afternoon with the sun out of viewing range but casting a golden glow on both horse and rider as well as the pack of hounds. A darkened – cloudy landscape behind allows for the contrasting subjects struck by the hidden light source. It’s a dramatic arrangement organized to highlight the red blazer and the whiteness of the horse. This painting pops from across the room because of this.
I came across a modern day equivelant fox hunt while on a drawing excursion in Cornwall during my exchange year (1983) at Exeter College of Art, in the UK. On a damp afternoon, after crossing a hedge and into the fields surrounding a manor home, I was beset upon by 20 hounds and six riders, who upon seeing my sketch pad, motioned for me to draw the estate in exchange for lunch. I’ll never forget it.
They too had red coats – some in black – similar to the figure on horseback in Sir Alfred’s painting above.
Bring back the classics!
Garrett McCarthy
Artist