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Lot Essay
This is a study of a favourite scene for Munnings of horses emerging through a gap in the woods and a theme he painted a number of times, mainly in 1911 (Coming through the Gap, The Bunting Collection of Work by Sir Alfred Munnings, Christie's, London, 12 June 2002, lot 9). The theme of frenzied ponies obvious appealed to him as he returned to the subject again in 1919. The inspiration for this idea was Lucy Kemp-Welsh's Colt Hunting in the New Forest, 1897, showing a group of wild ponies bursting from the forest towards the viewer.
In the present work, Munnings has matched the ponies' action with a flurry of brushstokes. It was Munnings' fashion to have his grooms/models repeat the scene he wanted to paint as he never used cameras to 'get his shot'. In this case the ponies were chased out of the wood through a gap repeatedly so Munings' keen eye could record not just the scene, but perhaps more importantly, the emotion of his equine subjects. The little chestnut pony although trotting, is alert with ears forward and has an anxious eye as he is herded along and bumped by other ponies. The bay pony in the back is lurching forward in an attempt to escape whatever is urging him on from behind.
We are grateful to Lorian Peralta Ramos for her help in preparing this catalogue entry. The picture will be included in her forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné of the work of Sir Alfred Munnings.
In the present work, Munnings has matched the ponies' action with a flurry of brushstokes. It was Munnings' fashion to have his grooms/models repeat the scene he wanted to paint as he never used cameras to 'get his shot'. In this case the ponies were chased out of the wood through a gap repeatedly so Munings' keen eye could record not just the scene, but perhaps more importantly, the emotion of his equine subjects. The little chestnut pony although trotting, is alert with ears forward and has an anxious eye as he is herded along and bumped by other ponies. The bay pony in the back is lurching forward in an attempt to escape whatever is urging him on from behind.
We are grateful to Lorian Peralta Ramos for her help in preparing this catalogue entry. The picture will be included in her forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné of the work of Sir Alfred Munnings.