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HARRY HALL
(1816-1882) |
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Famous Racehorses |
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The 19th century proved to be one of the greatest periods in English Sporting art, and one of the most sought after artist during the early days was John Frederick Herring, Sr. (1895-1865). Herring captured many of the most famous racehorses of the time on canvas, but there were many other artists whose work was also in demand; among them was Harry Hall.
Born in the fashionable eastern town of Cambridge in 1816, it appears that Hall may have received some of his artistic training from another great Sporting artist - Abraham Cooper (1787-1868).
Hall’s made his first appearance at Tattersalls - working on a number of their publications, including British Racehorses, The Sporting Review, The Field and The Illustrated London News. His earliest exhibited work was a portrait of Edward Wetherby, Esq. that was shown at the Royal Academy (RA) in 1838 while he was living in St. John’s Wood. It appears that he made the move to Newmarket towards the end of the 1840’s to concentrate on painting horse portraits and other animal subjects – these included shooting, poaching and rabbiting scenes. He continued to submit works to the RA until 1864, among the paintings shown were: Thoroughbred mares and foal (1846), Hunters, the property of F.L. Popham, Esq. (1851) and Favorite Hunters, the property of S.H. Arkwright, Esq., Hampton Court (1863).
Hall was also a frequent exhibitor at the British Institution, showing his first work there - Interior of a stable with Cart Horses - in 1847 and continuing to exhibit until 1866. However, it appears that he favored exhibiting at the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA). His exhibited first exhibited work at the RBA was in 1839 - A Brood Mare - and he continued sending works until 1875, exhibiting 27 works in all. Among the paintings shown were: Portrait of Rhedycinz, ridden by F. Butler – Winner of the Oaks at Epsom (1851); The Poacher Disturbed (1857); Rufus, a hunter, the property of John Fairman, Esq. (1861) and Disputed Possession (1875).
Working in Newmarket for more than 40 years Harry Hall received numerous commissions and after Herring, Sr.’s death in 1865, it appears that he became the most sought after animal portraitist. Among his important commissions were: Portrait of Irish Birdcatcher (currently in the collection of The Baltimore Museum of Art); Iroquios (the first American bred horse to win the English Derby); Sir Tatton Sykes (winner of the St. Leger in 1846), Blink Bonny (winner of both the Derby and Oaks in 1857); Blair Athol (winner of the Derby and St. Leger in 1864) and Count Lagrange’s horse Gladiateur (winner of the Derby and St. Leger of 1865).
Like a number of his contemporaries, including J.F. Herring, F.C. Turner, E. Corbet, and Abraham Cooper, many of Hall’s racehorse portraits - 114 in all - were used for engravings in The Sporting Magazine.
His last professional visit, outside the United Kingdom, was to M. Lefevre's racing establishment near Chantilly where he was commissioned to paint portraits of numerous horses including Mortemer and Flageolet. Hall died on April 22, 1882 from an attack of paralysis ... at that time he was finishing a commission for Prince Soltykoff of his horse Lucetta, winner of the Cambridgeshire in 1880.
Today many of his works are in important collections of Sporting art throughout the world and are a wonderful picture of the great racing tradition in England during the 19th century.
This essay is copyrighted by Rehs Galleries, Inc. and may not be reproduced or transmitted without written permission from Rehs Galleries, Inc.
| | Please remember that all works illustrated below have been SOLD.Click on any image to enlarge it and see more information about the work |
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Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
Blink Bonny, with J. Charlton Up, Owner & Trainer
Oil on canvas
28 x 36 inches
Signed and dated 1857/8
Winner:
Derby, 1857
Oaks, 1857
| Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
Blair Atholl
Oil on canvas
28 x 36 inches
Signed, inscribed and dated 1865
Winner:
Derby, 1864
St. Leger, 1864
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Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
Sterling
Oil on canvas
28 x 36 inches
Signed, inscribed and dated 1872
Winner:
The Hopeful Stakes, 1870
The Rutland Stakes, 1870
The 2000 Guineas Stakes, 1871
The Thirteenth Ascot Biennial Stakes, 1871
A Free Handicap Sweepstakes 100 Sovs., 1871
The Craven Stakes, 1872
The Liverpool Autumn Cup, 1873
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Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
Prince Plausible, with G. Fordham Up
Oil on canvas
22 x 30 inches
Signed and dated 1864
The following information was supplied by Eric Graham:
Some confusion is encountered with portraits of horses owned by Prince [Count] Batthyany [1803 - 1883]. His original colors were blue, orange sleeves and black cap. At some point he changed them to ‘all green.’ The date of the change is problematical. The new colors were certainly carried on Olympus at Newmarket on 25 October 1858, but some books of reference continued to show the old colors for the 1859 and 1860 season.
Prince Plausible, who raced from 1862 to 1865 is shown with Prince’s new colors.
There were two Prince Plausibles running in the 1850’s and 1860’s. The first was foaled in 1852 and was by Flatcatcher and owned by Mr J J Henderson [black, scarlet cap] and later Mr Baker [white, black cap].
The second, Batthyany’s, was foaled in 1858 and was by King Tom - Longitude.
The portrait shows the peerless George Fordham in the saddle he rode the colt on four occasions, and won the 1862 Chesterfield Cup on him.
The racing career of Prince Palusible [1858] b c by King Tom [1851] - Longitude [no trace]. Trained by John Dawson at Warren House, Newmarket.
1860 2-y-o
19 Jul Reading. Post Sweepstake; 5f. Bad 3rd of 3 to Knight of the Thistle. Not quoted. Ridden by Wells.
27 Sep Newmarket [First October]. Triennial Produce Stakes; 5f 9 ran. Unquoted and unplaced behind Folkestone. Ridden by Wells.
26 Oct Newmarket [Houghton]. Won Nursery Handicap Stakes 1m; 13 ran. Not quoted. Ridden by Norman.
1861 3-y-o
18 Apr Newmarket [Craven]. Bennington Stakes 1m 6 ran. 2nd to half brother Wing [by King Tom] beaten a head. 6/4 favourite. Ridden by Wells.
29 Apr Newmarket [First Spring]. £250 Sweepstakes 1m 2f. Won a neck from Reveille. 6/5on. Ridden by Wells.
18 Jul Stamford. Stamford St Leger [£80] 1m 2f; a bad third of 3 to Lawyer. Not quoted. Ridden by Wells.
25 Jul Ascot [July]. Handicap Sweepstakes 1m 5 ran. Won in a canter. 7/4 favourite Ridden by Bradley.
9 Aug Brighton [Club]. Brighton Biennial 1m; second of 4 to Will-o’-the-Wisp. 6/5on. Ridden by Sharp.
11 Sep Warwick. County Handicap 1m 9 ran. Third beaten 10 lengths by Sawcutter. 4/1. Ridden by Reeves.
29 Oct. Newmarket [Houghton]. The Cambridgeshire 1m 1f 35 ran. Unplaced behind Palestro. 66/1. Ridden by Bradley.
1862 4-y-o
1 Apr Northampton. The Great Northamptonshire Stakes 2m 20 ran. Unplaced and well beaten by Stampedo. 9/2 2nd favourite. Ridden by Edwards.
1 Aug Goodwood. Chesterfield Cup 1m 2f 26 ran. Won by a neck from Bosh. 20/1. Ridden by George Fordham.
27 Oct Newmarket [Houghton]. Handicap Plate 1m 1f 14 ran. Unplaced behind Teterrima. 10/1. Ridden by Bradley.
1863 5-y-o
25 Mar Northampton. The St Liz Handicap 1m 2f 14 ran. 2nd to Man-at-Arms. 7/1 Ridden by George Fordham.
19 May Epsom. Rous Stakes 1m. 3rd of 10 to half brother Wingrave [by King Tom]. 8/1. Ridden by George Fordham.
1864 6-y-o
30 Mar Northampton. The St Liz Handicap 1m 2f 16 ran. Unplaced and well beaten behind General Hess. 6/1. Ridden by George Fordham.
25 Oct Newmarket [Houghton]. The Cambridgeshire 1m 1f 38 ran. Unplaced behind Ackworth. 20/1. Ridden by Challoner. (Following this race Prince Plausible was advertised to be privately sold in the Racing Calendar . However he continued to run in Prince Batthyany’s colors).
1 Nov Worcester. Worcester Autumn Handicap 1m 3f 9 ran. 2nd to Grosvenor beaten easily. 6/4 favourite. Ridden by Custance.
1865 7-y-o
28 Mar Chelmsford. The Chelmer Handicap 1m 4f 8 ran. Unplaced behind Greenland. 100/15. Ridden by Custance.
14 Jun Royal Ascot. The Royal Hunt Cup 1m 25 ran. Eighth behind Gratitude. Unquoted. Ridden by Bradley.
8 Aug Huntingdon. The Huntingdonshire Stakes 2m. Last of 7 to Claxton. 5/1. Ridden by Custance.
11 October Newmarket [Second October]. Oatlands Plate 1m 1f. Last of 10 to Lady of the Manor. 5/1. Ridden by Custance.
- It is likely that Prince Batthyany kept Prince Plausible as a stallion. In 1870 two yearling fillies and a yearling colt submitted by Batthyany came up for auction. They fetched 10gns each. -
| Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
West Australian, with Jockey Up & Trainer
Oil on canvas
23 x 30 inches
Signed, inscribed and dated 1853
West Australian was the first horse to win the Triple Crown
in England.
Winner:
Derby, 1853
St. Leger, 1853
The Ascot Gold Cup, 1853
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Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
Isonomy
Oil on canvas
35 x 48 inches
Signed and dated 1878/9
Winner:
The Second Nursery Stakes, 1877
The Cambridge Stakes, 1878
The Gold Vase, 1879
The Ascot Gold Cup 1000 Sovs., 1879
The Goodwood Cup 300 Sovs., 1879
The Brighton Cup 300 Sovs., 1879
The Great Ebor Handicap 20 Sovs., 1879
The Manchester Cup 2000 Sovs., 1880
The Ascot Gold Cup 1000 Sovs., 1880
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Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
The Racehorse 'Fisherman'
Oil on canvas
22 x 30 inches
Signed
| Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
Cremorne
Oil on canvas
17 x 21 inches
signed and dated 1872
Winner:
Derby, 1872
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Harry Hall
(1816 - 1882)
'Fantastic', with Jockey Up
Oil on canvas
23 x 30 inches
Signed and dated 1863
The following information was supplied to us by Eric Graham:
Fantastic [1860] was by Hesperus - Whimsical and was owned by Mr G Bryan, in whose yellow, crimson sleeves [I stress crimson, not red] and cap colours she ran.
George Leopold Bryan was M P for Kilkenny in the Home Rule interest. He was born at Jenkinstown Park in 1828 and died, perhaps there, in late June 1880. He was steward at the West Drayton [London] races.
Fantastic [1860] b. c. By Hesperus [1849 by Bay Middleton] - Whimsical [no trace]
1862 - 2-y-o
23 April Newmarket [Craven]. Fourth in £50 Plate 4f to Battery; 10/1. Ridden by Lynch.
8 July Newmarket [July]. 3rd in 15 runner Maiden Plate 5f; not quoted. Ridden by Lynch.
21 August York. Won 12 runner Nursery Stakes 5f; 6/4 favourite. Ridden by Fordham.
31 October Newmarket [First October]. Won 10 runner Hopeful Stakes 4f; 100/7. Ridden by Lynch. Made all the running.
1863 - 3-y-o
24 March Northampton & Pytchley Hunt. Won 12 runner Whittlebury Stakes 6f; 5/2 second favourite. Ridden by Custance.
6 April Newmarket [Craven]. Won 4 runner £25 Sweepstake 6f; 3/1on. Ridden by Custance.
8 April Newmarket [Craven]. 2nd in 5 runner Subscription Plate 6f; 6/4 on. Ridden by Lynch.
20 May Epsom The Derby 1m 4f 31 ran; unplaced behind Macaroni; 100/7 - but offered at better than 300/1 in the spring. Ridden by Custance.
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