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Lot Essay
In 1824, when this picture was painted, John Herring was living in Doncaster. Among his Yorkshire paintings dating from this period is The Countess of Darlington's Carriage Ponies, signed and dated 1823, which is in the collecion of Lord Barnard at Raby Castle (exhibited at Washington, National Gallery, The Treasure Houses of Britain, 1985-6, no. 438).
A very similar painting by Herring of these two sitters, currently in a French private collection, was identified by a descendant of John Batsby as Mr. John Batsby and friend with their guns and pointers on the Yorkshire Moors (A. Vandervell and C. Coles, Game and the English Landscape, New York, 1980, p. 115, illustrated). The only variations appear to be that the pointer on the right is looking backwards and the pose of the gentleman is slightly altered. Since both paintings are the same size, it is probable that Herring produced one painting for each of the two friends, John Barker and John Batsby.
A very similar painting by Herring of these two sitters, currently in a French private collection, was identified by a descendant of John Batsby as Mr. John Batsby and friend with their guns and pointers on the Yorkshire Moors (A. Vandervell and C. Coles, Game and the English Landscape, New York, 1980, p. 115, illustrated). The only variations appear to be that the pointer on the right is looking backwards and the pose of the gentleman is slightly altered. Since both paintings are the same size, it is probable that Herring produced one painting for each of the two friends, John Barker and John Batsby.