Sir Alfred J. Munnings, P.R.A. (British, 1878-1959)

A Dragoon Guard on a Dappled Grey, Facing Left; and A Dragoon Guard on a Dappled Grey, From the Back

Details

Sir Alfred J. Munnings, P.R.A. (British, 1878-1959)
A Dragoon Guard on a Dappled Grey, Facing Left; and A Dragoon Guard on a Dappled Grey, From the Back
both signed 'A.J.Munnings' (lower left)
oil on canvas
32 x 27 in. (82.5 x 69.9 cm.)
a pair (2)

Provenance

The Artist's Estate
with Frost & Reed, Ltd., London
E. J. Rousuck, New York
Paul Mellon, Upperville, Virginia, to his son-in-law,
Senator John W. Warner, Washington (acquired by the present owner in 1993)

Exhibited

New York, Wildenstein & Co., Alfred J. Munnings, Images of the Turf and Field, 1983, nos. 51 and 52, both illustrated, one in color

Sale room notice

Both paintings are signed (lower left).

Lot Essay

This pair of paintings are unusual as Munnings rarely painted military subjects. During World War I, Munnings painted several portraits of Canadian troops in France (see lots 200 and 201) and in 1922, he was commissioned to paint Drum Horse for the First Life Guards to hang in the Officers' Mess. The dragoon, a mounted soldier who fought as light cavalry, derived its name from the soldier's short musket.