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Lot Essay
John Wootton, along with Peter Tillemans and James Seymour, painted some of the earliest views of thoroughbred racing in England. Wootton was, according to the Earl of Egremeont in 1734, "the best painter of horses in England" and his racing scenes "were masterpieces of composition and activity" (ibid., p. 471). His paintings clearly influenced the work of later sporting artists like George Stubbs, Ben Marshall, John Frederick Herring, Sr. and even Sir Edwin Landseer and Sir Alfred Munnings.
The first recorded race at Newmarket was held March 8, 1622 for a purse of 100. The Beacon Course was often used and measured 4 miles, 1 furlongs, and 138 yards, according to a 1787 engraving of Newmarket. (An old starting post for the Beacon Couse at the National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket, measures the distance at 4 miles, 1 furlong, and 6 yards.). By the 18th century Newmarket had become the most important center for racing in England. King George I made a royal visit in October 1717 and many of these early racing views probably include noted sporting figures of the day. For instance, it has also been suggested that the nobleman wearing the blue ribbon and star of the Order of the Garter is the King. However, it is more likely that this is the Duke of Wharton, the main owner at Newmarket during this period and whose silver filigree over rose silks are worn by the leading jockey. The large figure on the right in a pink jacket, may be Tregonwell Frampton (d. 1727), the Keeper of the King's Running Horses.
Similar paintings of the same size and subject are known. A signed but undated picture was in the collection of Lady Sybil Grant at the Durdans (Lady Irwin, sale, Christie's London, 1 June 1956, lot 10) and is now in the Paul Mellon Collection (J. Egerton, British Sporting and Animal Painting: The Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven, 1978, pp. 18-19, no. 18). Another, unsigned and undated, was commissioned from Wootton by Lord Harley for Welbeck Abbey in 1716 (sale, Christie's London, 26 March, 1976, lot 9).
The first recorded race at Newmarket was held March 8, 1622 for a purse of 100. The Beacon Course was often used and measured 4 miles, 1 furlongs, and 138 yards, according to a 1787 engraving of Newmarket. (An old starting post for the Beacon Couse at the National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket, measures the distance at 4 miles, 1 furlong, and 6 yards.). By the 18th century Newmarket had become the most important center for racing in England. King George I made a royal visit in October 1717 and many of these early racing views probably include noted sporting figures of the day. For instance, it has also been suggested that the nobleman wearing the blue ribbon and star of the Order of the Garter is the King. However, it is more likely that this is the Duke of Wharton, the main owner at Newmarket during this period and whose silver filigree over rose silks are worn by the leading jockey. The large figure on the right in a pink jacket, may be Tregonwell Frampton (d. 1727), the Keeper of the King's Running Horses.
Similar paintings of the same size and subject are known. A signed but undated picture was in the collection of Lady Sybil Grant at the Durdans (Lady Irwin, sale, Christie's London, 1 June 1956, lot 10) and is now in the Paul Mellon Collection (J. Egerton, British Sporting and Animal Painting: The Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven, 1978, pp. 18-19, no. 18). Another, unsigned and undated, was commissioned from Wootton by Lord Harley for Welbeck Abbey in 1716 (sale, Christie's London, 26 March, 1976, lot 9).