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Lot Essay
At the time this work was executed, the hunt had existed for 100 years. Although, the kennels were originally at Warninglid, anlater at Staplefeld. New kennels were built in 1977 at West Grinstead where they have remained ever since. The hunt always had strong local support and in the 1930s, it was one of the most fashionable in the country.
The painting is virtually a portrait of the hunt as it was in 1933-4 and most of the personalities are clearly identifiable (a key with the names of the hunters accompanies this lot). The scene is a view of the Sussex countryside looking north from a point believed to be some two miles North-West of Steyning, possibly the ridge to the west of Wappingthorn Farm. If so, the cover in the foreground is probably Wappingthorn Wood. In any event, the village on the right of the picture in the middle distance is Henfield and the train is steaming out of the station going northwards on the Horsham-Shoreham line, now dismantled. To the left, the spire of St. Hugh's Monastery, near Cowfold, is clearly visible, and left again is the windmill which used to stand at Littleworth, but was demolished in 1937-8. Knapp Castle is on the left of the picture and the North Downs form a back drop in the far distance.
One of the intriguing aspects of the picture is the artist's note at the foot under the title 'Sketch for Picture'. The picture referred to is undoubtedly an oil painting executed by the artist at about the same time and purchased by Mrs. Molly Gregson in 1936. The scene is very similar to the one here except that the huntsman Denton with the hounds is depicted in the right foreground, and one or two of the figures have been changed. Strangely, the oil painting is dated 1933 whereas the watercolour sketch is dated a year later. (Mrs. Gregson bequeathed her picture, with several others, to the British Sporting Art Trust based in Newmarket, in 1986.)
The painting is virtually a portrait of the hunt as it was in 1933-4 and most of the personalities are clearly identifiable (a key with the names of the hunters accompanies this lot). The scene is a view of the Sussex countryside looking north from a point believed to be some two miles North-West of Steyning, possibly the ridge to the west of Wappingthorn Farm. If so, the cover in the foreground is probably Wappingthorn Wood. In any event, the village on the right of the picture in the middle distance is Henfield and the train is steaming out of the station going northwards on the Horsham-Shoreham line, now dismantled. To the left, the spire of St. Hugh's Monastery, near Cowfold, is clearly visible, and left again is the windmill which used to stand at Littleworth, but was demolished in 1937-8. Knapp Castle is on the left of the picture and the North Downs form a back drop in the far distance.
One of the intriguing aspects of the picture is the artist's note at the foot under the title 'Sketch for Picture'. The picture referred to is undoubtedly an oil painting executed by the artist at about the same time and purchased by Mrs. Molly Gregson in 1936. The scene is very similar to the one here except that the huntsman Denton with the hounds is depicted in the right foreground, and one or two of the figures have been changed. Strangely, the oil painting is dated 1933 whereas the watercolour sketch is dated a year later. (Mrs. Gregson bequeathed her picture, with several others, to the British Sporting Art Trust based in Newmarket, in 1986.)