by KatyM, Community News

 Important Equestrian Art to Be Auctioned At Christie's July 5th

In a sale of "Old Masters and Early British Painting" at Christies on July 5th, several significant equestrian paintings are included in the catalogue.
The most important work is "Gimcrack on Newmarket heath with a trainer, a jockey and a stable lad" by George Stubbs ARA (Liverpool 1724-1806). Stubbs is widely considered one of the most influential artists who specialized in equestrian subject matter. He revolutionized equine art by studying the anatomy of horses and illustrating his studies in a published guide based on his dissection of the muscles, skeleton, nerves, and organs. His artwork clearly showed his understanding of the animal.

This painting is estimated to be sold in the range of $32,160,000 to $48,240,000 (£20,000,00 to £30,000,000). This is the most highly valued work in the auction.

A detailed history of the painting is available in Christie's online catalogue.

Other Stubbs paintings are offered, however, not of the significance of the portrait of Gimcrack. One is a portrait of a black and white spaniel which is estimated to reach $804,000 to $1,286,400 (£500,000 to £800,000). One portrait of a Dark Bay hunter is estimated to bring $160,800 to $241,200 (£100,000 to £150,000).

Also in the sale are historically significant portraits of early Arabian sires that were fundamental to the establishment of the Thoroughbred breed. Most important is the famous portrait of the Godolphin Arabian by John Wootton (ca. 1682-1764) which is estimated to sell for $482,000 to $804,000 (£300,000 to £500,000). The Wootton portrait of Lord Harley's Bloody Shouldered Arabian is expected to reach $241,200 to $321,600 (£150,000 to £200,000).

A Saddled Grey Thoroughbred by James Seymour (1702 -1752) is estimated to sell for $160,800 to $241,200 (£100,000 to £150,000) and "George Irving with his black hunter …" by Jacques-Laurent Agasse (1767-1849) is expected to bring between $402,00 to $562,800 (£250,000 to £350,000).

Other important artists included in the sale are Joshua Reynolds, Gainsborough, Fragonard, Van Dyck, Jan Breughel, "Workshop of Alessandro Fillipepi, called Sandro Botticelli," and figure studies by Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564). The figure studies are expected to sell for $4,824,000 to $8,040,000 (£3,000,000 to £5,000,000). A well-known portrait of King Henry VIII, attributed to "Circle of Hans Holbein II 1497/8-1543)" is estimated to bring $482,400 to $804,000 (£300,000 to £500,000).