Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Champion Shire Horse
'Sawgate Rose of Secundus, Vol 42'
by Fred Thurlby (British, 1865-1946)
Signed and dated 1919
Inscribed verso
Oil on canvas, framed
Framed: 16 x 20 inches
Canvas: 14 x 18 inches
Medium: oil on canvas
Provenance: private collection, UK.
Condition: the painting is in very good condition
A charming equestrian portrait by Fred Thurlby (British, 1865–1946), depicting the champion Shire horse "Sawgate Rose of Secundus", recorded in Volume 42 of the Shire Horse Stud Book. Painted in 1919, the horse is shown standing proudly in profile against an open landscape, allowing its powerful conformation, rich bay coat and distinctive feathering to be fully appreciated.
Executed with careful attention to anatomical accuracy and proportion, Thurlby captures the immense strength and gentle temperament for which the Shire breed is celebrated. The simple rural backdrop ensures the horse remains the principal focus of the composition, while the soft sky and open landscape lend the painting a pleasing sense of space and atmosphere.
Fred Thurlby (British, 1865–1946) was a respected British sporting and animal painter whose work focused on horses and agricultural subjects. His paintings are admired for their honest observation, accomplished draughtsmanship and faithful portrayal of pedigree livestock, making them highly sought after by collectors of British sporting and rural art.
Named portraits of registered Shire horses such as this provide an important record of Britain's agricultural and breeding history. The inclusion of the horse's name and its reference to Volume 42 of the Shire Horse Stud Book enhances both the historical significance and collectability of the work.
A fine example of early twentieth-century British sporting art, this painting would make an excellent addition to any collection of equestrian paintings, Shire horse memorabilia...
Category
Mid-20th Century Victorian Art by Medium: Wood Panel