拍品專文
This drawing is a copy by Dupont after Thomas Gainsborough, see J. Hayes, op. cit, p. 129, nos 65 and 66, and plates 340-342. Dupont's copy is a combination of Hayes nos. 65 and 66 in that the pose of the horse's head is derived from Hayes no. 65 and the rest of the composition is derived from Hayes no. 66.
Gainsborough's drawing was originally thought to have been executed as a study for the portrait of General Honywood, see E. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, London, 1958, p. 375, p. 83, but apart from it being an equestrian portrait, there is no Honywood connection. Gainsborough is not known to have completed any other equestrian portrait, however in 1785-7 he was engaged on a portrait of George Prince of Wales commissioned by T.W. Coke of Holkham and intended as a companion to his equestrian portrait by Van Dyck of The Duc d'Arenberg in armour. It seems probable that Gainsborough's drawing was a study for this portrait.
Gainsborough's drawing was originally thought to have been executed as a study for the portrait of General Honywood, see E. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, London, 1958, p. 375, p. 83, but apart from it being an equestrian portrait, there is no Honywood connection. Gainsborough is not known to have completed any other equestrian portrait, however in 1785-7 he was engaged on a portrait of George Prince of Wales commissioned by T.W. Coke of Holkham and intended as a companion to his equestrian portrait by Van Dyck of The Duc d'Arenberg in armour. It seems probable that Gainsborough's drawing was a study for this portrait.