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Lot Essay
Munnings painted his only posthumous portrait in 1936. The subject was the late King George V who had died at the beginning of the year. The painting was commisssioned by the Hon. Douglas Tollemache as a gift to the town of Ipswich and portrayed the King on his white Highland garron, Jock.
In the present work, Munnings captures the event by depicting himself carrying out an exacting study in the stables at Sandringham, while Jock is being held by the King's groom, French. In his autobiography, (loc. cit.), Munnings reports that 'French, the devoted groom ... was determined that the picture should be right'; to this end, for the finished work he borrowed one of the late King's shooting suits, spats and hat. 'After looking at the painting, he would remount the pony, saying "Look now, Sir; this is how His Majesty used to sit; his shoulders a little hunched; so."'
The final portrait, 'H.M. King George V on his pony 'Jock' at Sandringham' was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1937.
In the present work, Munnings captures the event by depicting himself carrying out an exacting study in the stables at Sandringham, while Jock is being held by the King's groom, French. In his autobiography, (loc. cit.), Munnings reports that 'French, the devoted groom ... was determined that the picture should be right'; to this end, for the finished work he borrowed one of the late King's shooting suits, spats and hat. 'After looking at the painting, he would remount the pony, saying "Look now, Sir; this is how His Majesty used to sit; his shoulders a little hunched; so."'
The final portrait, 'H.M. King George V on his pony 'Jock' at Sandringham' was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1937.