large victorian oil painting melton bay hunter race horse with jockey fred archer up

Victorian Sporting Oil Painting of Melton with Fred Archer by F. S. Evans, Signed 1885

A fine Victorian oil on canvas by the British sporting artist F. S. Evans, signed and dated 1885, depicting the celebrated Thoroughbred Melton with Champion Jockey Fred Archer mounted. Painted during Melton's outstanding 1885 racing season, this accomplished sporting portrait records one of the most famous horse-and-rider partnerships in nineteenth-century British racing.Melton is shown standing in elegant side profile against the Norfolk landscape surrounding Lord Hastings' Melton Constable estate. Evans demonstrates a confident understanding of equine anatomy, capturing the horse's powerful physique, lustrous bay coat and refined proportions with remarkable accuracy. Fred Archer is portrayed wearing his distinctive racing colours, while the carefully observed landscape and expansive sky create a balanced and atmospheric composition.Painted in the year that Melton secured victories in both the Derby Stakes and the St Leger under Archer, the work forms part of the long tradition of British sporting art established by George Stubbs, Benjamin Marshall, John Frederick Herring Sr., Harry Hall and John Ferneley. A closely related portrait of Melton by F. S. Evans is held in the National Trust Collection at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland.Frederick James Archer (1857–1886) is regarded as one of Britain's greatest jockeys, winning the Champion Jockey title for thirteen consecutive seasons and riding an extraordinary 2,748 winners during his career. Melton, foaled in 1882 and trained by Mathew Dawson, won eleven of his eighteen races before becoming an influential Thoroughbred stallion.The painting retains its impressive original late Victorian gilt moulded frame beneath protective glass, complementing the work and preserving its authentic period appearance.Provenance is excellent. The painting comes from the distinguished estate of Stafford Ellerman (1928–2022) and was sold as Lot 1178 in Ewbank's Silver & Fine Art Auction, Surrey, on 21 March 2024. The reverse of the original canvas bears the trade stamp of Percy Young, 137 Gower Street, London, the well-known supplier of artists' materials to the Slade School of Art. Professionally researched, catalogued and curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.Dimensions:
Height: 81 cm
Width: 99 cm
Depth: 2.5 cmCondition:
Presented in fine antique condition. The canvas displays attractive age-related craquelure, light foxing and minor surface wear consistent with its age. Colours remain rich and vibrant with excellent definition throughout. The original gilt frame has expected age-related wear and minor losses but remains structurally sound and highly decorative.A rare opportunity to acquire an original Victorian sporting portrait depicting one of Britain's greatest racehorses together with its legendary jockey, combining documented provenance, historical importance and outstanding decorative appeal.

Antiques.co.uk Ref: DQU5HE9WR

Maker/Artist:

F S Evans

Materials:

Oil on canvas

Width (cm):

99

Height (cm):

81

Depth (cm):

2.5

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