Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Sam Marriott
Study of two Shetland ponies heads

$2,894.26
£2,140
€2,533.61
CA$4,001.56
A$4,482.42
CHF 2,354.33
MX$54,504.83
NOK 29,813.52
SEK 28,301.05
DKK 18,909.31

About the Item

Sam Marriott (1932-1997) was a British painter active in the Post‑War and Contemporary art scene. Known chiefly for his oil paintings of sporting, equestrian, and rural life, he chronicled the English countryside with a keen eye and dynamic brushwork. His signatures appear on over a dozen auctioned works, spanning from hunting scenes and fox hunts to more tranquil rural moments Marriott’ pieces include genre scenes such as Horses in a meadow, Fernie Hunt over hedges and open ground, and canine portraits—testament to his skill in capturing animate subjects Though he seldom exhibited publicly, his works were well-regarded by collectors and often featured in UK auction houses. In this intimate oil study, Marriott captures two Shetland pony heads set against a soft white background. The neutral backdrop allows their expressions and textures to command attention. Composition: The ponies’ heads overlap slightly, one looking to us while the other one looks towards the right. Marriott’s painterly brushstrokes convey the Shetlands’ thick winter coats. Short, textured strokes emphasize the tufted forelocks and fuzzy muzzles, while subtle shading adds volume to their features. Warm tones — sandy chestnut, russet, and creamy creams — are highlighted with white and ochre. The silky transition from highlights to middle tones evokes a soft, tactile feel. Against the white, the earthy tones stand out without distraction. The simplicity evokes a studio-like study format — focused on form and character, not narrative or setting. This work reveals Marriott's versatility: though renowned for active sporting canvases, he also possessed the subtlety to do sensitive portraiture, conveying personality and bond in quiet moments. In summary, Sam Marriott blended sporting dynamism with quiet observational intimacy. Whether capturing a galloping hunt or the gentle presence of Shetland ponies in stillness, his work consistently reflects empathy, expert technique, and a deep connection to rural British life. The painting is signed on the bottom right "Marriott" The size of the panel is 30.5 x 40.5 cm
  • Creator:
    Sam Marriott (1932 - 1997)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.56 in (39.5 cm)Width: 19.69 in (50 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: b231stDibs: LU2841216592182

More From This Seller

View All
Mare and Foal in a Stable Interior, James Ward RA (1769 - 1859)
By James Ward
Located in London, GB
James Ward, an 18th-century English artist, captures a serene and intimate scene in his oil painting Mare and Foal in a Stable Interior. This work embodies Ward's expertise in portra...
Category

18th Century Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Arab stallion in a landscape, Lionel Hamilton Renwick (1917-2003)
Located in London, GB
Lionel Hamilton Renwick’s "Arab Stallion in a Landscape" captures the striking beauty and elegance of an Arabian horse set against a sweeping, natural backdrop. Known for his equine ...
Category

20th Century Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Two Hunters in an Open Landscape
Located in London, GB
Nassau Blair Browne, a celebrated Dublin artist and Royal Hibernian Academy member, brings to life a serene yet striking portrayal of two hunters in a vast open landscape. This evoca...
Category

1920s Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Grey Pony and a Dog in a Stable Interior. Samuel Spode (1798 - 1858), signed
By Samuel Spode
Located in London, GB
In this charming oil on canvas, Irish artist Sam Spode beautifully captures a serene moment within the quiet, intimate setting of a stable. The grey pony, depicted with remarkable detail, stands alongside a loyal dog, creating a peaceful harmony between the two animals. Samuel Spode...
Category

Early 19th Century Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Bay race horse in a stable, William Osborne RHA, Irish Artist, 1823 - 1901
By William Osborne
Located in London, GB
This painting by William Osborne, an Irish artist from the 19th century, features a bay racehorse in a stable, captured in rich oil on canvas. The scene evokes a sense of realism and attention to detail, as Osborne was known for his vivid depictions of horses, particularly those involved in racing or in stables. The piece is signed with the artist’s initials, and still features the original frame. William Osborne is today best remembered as the father of the artist Walter Osborne. But he was a significant artist in his own right. He specialised in painting animals especially his own terriers who were often depicted in his studio. Strickland wrote ''His pictures of dogs...
Category

Late 19th Century Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Two resting dogs, after Sir Edwin Henry Landseer RA
By Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, 1802-1873
Located in London, GB
This painting after Edwin Henry Landseer RA (7 March 1802 – 1 October 1873) shows two dogs which were among Landseer’s favorite subjects. They are rendered in a naturalistic and expr...
Category

20th Century Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Oil Study of Two Horses
By Frederic A. Bridgeman
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Oil Study of Two Horses Oil on canvas, c. 1880 Unsigned Estate stamp verso of canvas and on stretcher (see photo) Condition: Excellent New gilt frame aptterned afte...
Category

1880s American Realist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Study of the Movement of a Horses Head by Robert Ladou
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Study of the Movement of a Horses Head by Robert Ladou Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Charcoal on blue paper Size: 20 (Height) x 13.75 (Width) Signed: No Co...
Category

20th Century Academic Animal Paintings

Materials

Charcoal

Moorland Ponies, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Zoe Elizabeth Norman
Located in Yardley, PA
Contemporary Impressionism. The British Isles are home to many native ponies still living wild. My latest visit to the Brecon Beacons in South Wales inspired this painting of two ...
Category

2010s Impressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Study of Two Classical Greek Horse Heads and a Modern Horse
By Luis Jiménez
Located in Kansas City, MO
Luis Jimenez Study of Two Classical Greek Horse Heads and a Modern Horse Year: 1994 2 Color Lithograph Edition: 28 Paper: Rives BFK, White Paper Size: 29.5 x 41 inches Image Size: 16 x 33 inches (irregular) Signed and numbered by hand COA provided --------------- Luis Alfonso Jiménez...
Category

1990s Modern Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Portrait of Two Horses in a Landscape - British 19thC equine art oil painting
By George Cole
Located in London, GB
This lovely British Victorian oil painting is attributed noted landscape and animal artist George Cole ans ascribed verso. Painted in 1840 it is a superb portrait of two horses, one ...
Category

1840s Victorian Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Head of a Grey Pony with two Setters & Head of a Bay Pony with two Setters -Pair
By Colin Graeme Roe
Located in Belgravia, London, London
Oil on canvas Canvas size: 16 x 12 inches each Framed size: 24.25 x 20 inches each Signed lower left
Category

19th Century Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil