A hunting scene showing the release of the hounds, in a wooded landscape

This picture has traditionally been identified as Sir Paulet St. John going out hunting. Paulet St. John (1704-1780) of Farley Chamberlayne and Dogmersfield Park, Hampshire, was the eldest son of Ellis St. John of Farley Chamberlayne, by his second wife Martha, daughter and eventually heir of Edward Goodyear of Dogmersfield Park. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, and on 2 August 1731, married Elizabeth (d. 21 December 1733), daughter of Sir James Rushout, 2nd. Bt., of Northwick Park, Worcestershire. He secondly married Mary (d. 17 December 1758), daughter of John Waters of Brecon, widow of Sir Halswell Tynte, 3rd Bt and lastly, on 13 February 1761, Jane, daughter and heir of R. Harris of Silkstead, Hampshire, widow of William Pescod of Winchester. St. John was made Sheriff of Hampshire (1727-28) and was Member of Parliament for Winchester (1734-41 and 1751) and Hampshire (1741-47). He was elected mayor of Winchester in 1772 and was made a baronet in October of that year. He was succeeded by his eldest son from his second marriage, Sir Henry Paulet St. John.