About this lot

Description

Francis Sartorius the Elder (British, 1734-1804)

Hylas, a chestnut racehorse, held by a jockey
signed and dated 'F. Sartorius / Pinxt. 1775' (on the building centre right)
inscribed with the biography of the horse (lower left)
oil on canvas
62 x 75cm;
together with a mezzotint of this painting by Henry Kingsbury, two in the lot

Hylas was a liver chestnut horse sired by Antinous out of a mare by Spectator and bred by the Duke of Grafton. He was sold to the Earl of Ossory in 1774 and then to Mr William Clarke in 1775. The present scene depicts Hylas following his victory in the race for the King’s Plate of 100gns at Burford on the 25^th of July 1775, with a Rubbing House visible on the right.

There were six runners - a bay named Caffinius, a grey named Rambler, another bay called Upton, a brown named Fellow Commoner and finally a grey called Top-Gallant. The race was run in heats and it only took two before Hylas was declared the winner, as he won both. In the background directly beneath Hylas, Sartorius shows the race in action, with Hylas in the lead and Top-Gallant bringing up the rear. Interestingly, instead of recording either of the heats, Sartorius sets the horses out in their overall finishing order, exactly matching their coat colours and the silks on Caffinius, Fellow Commoner and Top-Gallant. The silks of the other runners, like Hylas, are not recorded.

Towards the end of the 18th century, Burford was a significant fixture. Other owners who fielded horses in its most important race included the owner of the famous Eclipse, Dennis O’Kelly, and Willoughby Bertie, 4^th Earl of Abingdon, the breeder of Potoooooooo. Following Hylas’ victory at this event against such experienced opposition, it is no surprise that the comparatively humble Mr Clarke wished to have his winner recorded by one of the country's leading equestrian painters.

We are grateful to David Oldrey for his assistance with this catalogue entry.

78.5 x 91cm framed

The painting is executed in oil on a linen canvas support which has been lined. The paint layer has a prominent network of age cracks, some of which are raised and lifting. There are numerous small, scattered losses at the junctions of the cracks and some scuffs in the paint layer with raised edges. An old damage to the right of the horse has been repaired, the fill is cracked and lifting. The paint layer is worn in many areas. The varnish is yellowed and semi-matte. There are numerous areas of overpaint across the surface.

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