Heaton Park Races

1829

John Ferneley

Associated Names
John Ferneley

Artist, British, 1782 - 1860

The painting depicts an equestrian scene with people and horses in a green landscape. There are several people on horseback, and others standing by horses. Some people are also sitting in horse-drawn carriages. The horses are in a variety of colors, and the people wear formal clothing like suit jackets, top hats, vests, or colorful dresses. People fill the middle of the scene and the green hills that rise to the left, while a wide path is marked off on the right, bordered by fences. There are some tall trees around the area, with people gathering below them. In the distance, a large white building with columns and blue roofs can be seen. There is also a white tent partially behind a hill on the left. The sky above is blue and filled with white and gray clouds.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 92 x 152.6 cm (36 1/4 x 60 1/16 in.)
    framed: 110.5 x 170.8 x 8.2 cm (43 1/2 x 67 1/4 x 3 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1970.17.110

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Painted for Thomas Grosvenor (assumed surname Egerton in 1821), 2nd earl of Wilton [1799-1882], Heaton Hall, Lancashire; by inheritance to his son, Arthur Edward Holland Grey Egerton, 3rd earl of Wilton [1833-1885], Heaton Hall; by inheritance to his wife, Elizabeth, countess of Wilton [d. 1919]; her estate; (sale, Sotheby & Co., London, 16 May 1928, no. 155, as A Country Race Meeting);[1] (M. Knoedler & Co., New York and London); purchased July 1928 by Ailsa Mellon Bruce [1901-1969], New York;[2] bequest 1970 to NGA.
[1] The catalogue for the Sotheby's sale listed the painting as "The Property of the late Elizabeth Countess of Wilton, Sold by Order of the Dowager, Viscountess Deerhurst."
[2] Guy Paget, in "Ben Marshall and John Ferneley," Apollo 40 (August 1944): 36, fig. XVI, credits the reproduction of the painting to Hamilton Bruce of Baltimore. Bruce has not yet been further identified, but he was possibly a relation of Mrs. Bruce's husband, David K.E. Bruce, whose family lived in Baltimore.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1989

  • Extended loan for use by The Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C., 1989-1994.

2009

  • Extended loan for use by Vice President and Mrs. Joseph Biden, Vice President's House, Washington, D.C., 2009-2015.

Bibliography

1931

  • Paget, Major Guy. The Melton Mowbray of John Ferneley (1782-1860). Leicester and New York, 1931: 71, 72, 138, repro. opp. 70.

1975

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 126, repro., as In the Paddock.

  • Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. New York, 1975: no. 597, color repro.

1978

  • Egerton, Judy. British Sporting and Animal Paintings 1655-1867: the Paul Melllon Collection. London, 1978: 243.

1984

  • Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 408, no. 582, color repro., as In the Paddock.

1985

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 152, repro., as In the Paddock

1992

  • Hayes, John. British Paintings of the Sixteenth through Nineteenth Centuries. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1992: 72-73, repro. 73.

Wikidata ID

Q20185651

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