Sale 6679, Lot 9 Sir Alfred Munnings, P.R.A, R.W.S. (1878-1959) Coming through the Gap, 1910 Oil on canvas Estimate: £1,200,000-1,800,000 Read more Important Pictures by Sir Alfred Munnings from The Bunting Collection 11 June 2002, 7:00 pm 8 King Street, St. James's, London Speaker: Lorian Peralta-Ramos, author of the forthcoming catalogue raisonné on Sir Alfred Munnings For general inquiries and to reserve your seat, please contact: Philippa Hogan-Hern Tel: +44 (0)20 7389 2250 The Bunting Collection of Works by Sir Alfred Munnings Sale 6679 12 June 2002, 7:00 pm (immediately followed by Important British Art) 8 King Street, St. James's, London The father of the late Dr. Charles F. Bunting, one of Munnings' most important early patrons, formed this important collection of 21 early oils and watercolors by Munnings. The majority of the collection has not been seen publicly since the major retrospective exhibition held in 1928 and 1939. The 21 works were all painted prior to 1914 and cover almost every aspect of the artist's early career. Munnings' memoirs leave a strong impression that this was perhaps the happiest period of his life. In these early years he was free to roam the countryside painting his models in meadows and on hills, as yet unconstrained by the artistic restrictions of painting to commission. His images of horse fairs, hunting scenes and country races provide a valuable record of a countryside and way of life, which was to vanish after the Great War. In "Reflections on the Past", an article that appeared in The Studio in 1944, Munnings wrote, "Such days and such a life were only possible in the environment of that pre-war period up to 1914. Rural England has never been the same playground for the artist since." A masterpiece of equine observation, Coming through the Gap, depicts a group of anxious ponies being steered by Munnings' favorite model, the gypsy boy Shrimp. Related Sales: Sporting Art 20th Century British Art Sporting Art & Dogs