Lot Essay
John Willis Good was a sculptor known for equestrian subjects and portrait busts. Along side Adrian Jones (1845-1930) and Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm (1834-1890) who was later Good's instructor, John Willis Good is ranked at the forefront of 19th-century Animalier sculptors. The present models, one hunstman hullooing and one looking over his shoulder, were originally commissioned by Thomas Rome, Master of the Cotswold Harriers, and first executed in bronze in 1874 (see Country Life November 4, 1985, p.1476). The present pair are the only silver versions known. Good reproduced his sculptures in bronze, sterling silver and silver plate using Elkingtons of Birmingham as his usual foundry. Between 1870 and 1878 he exhibited fifteen groups at the Royal Academy and on one occasion collaborated with Charles Luytens. He died in 1879 at the age of 34.