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Lot Essay
Robert Bower of Welham Park, Yorkshire, was a Major in the East Riding local Militia and Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding. In addition to this painting, Chalon had produced over a decade earlier in 1813 a smaller painting entitled A Favorite Hunter of Robert Bower of Welham sold at Christie's, New York, 1 December 1999, lot 13 ($63,000). Bower commissioned both works directly from Chalon and both descended in the family until the late 20th Century.
One of the more important painters of his time, Chalon was the son of Jan Chalon, a Dutch musician and engraver from Amsterdam (1749-95), and 'Jackey' Barnard, the daughter of Sir John Barnard, a financier, London merchant, Lord Mayor and M.P. (1722-61). Chalon studied at the Royal Academy schools and married a sister of the artist James Ward. Their daughter Maria A. Chalon became a miniaturist. Chalon became estranged from his wife and James Ward tried, unsuccessfuly, to damage his career.
Chalon had considerable success as a painter and in 1795 was appointed animal painter to the Duchess of York, and later to the Prince Regent and William IV. It was during the Regency that some of his best work was painted. Other important patrons included the Dukes of Beaufort and Devonshire, Earl Grosvenor, Lord Raby and Col. Thornton. He exhibited almost two hundred pictures at the Royal Academy but was never made an Academician, possibly influenced by his brother-in-law James Ward. Despite this he had nineteen plates published in The Sporting Magazine, he published Chalon's book of animals and birds of every description, and in 1804, Studies from Nature, which shows some Stubbs influence.
One of the more important painters of his time, Chalon was the son of Jan Chalon, a Dutch musician and engraver from Amsterdam (1749-95), and 'Jackey' Barnard, the daughter of Sir John Barnard, a financier, London merchant, Lord Mayor and M.P. (1722-61). Chalon studied at the Royal Academy schools and married a sister of the artist James Ward. Their daughter Maria A. Chalon became a miniaturist. Chalon became estranged from his wife and James Ward tried, unsuccessfuly, to damage his career.
Chalon had considerable success as a painter and in 1795 was appointed animal painter to the Duchess of York, and later to the Prince Regent and William IV. It was during the Regency that some of his best work was painted. Other important patrons included the Dukes of Beaufort and Devonshire, Earl Grosvenor, Lord Raby and Col. Thornton. He exhibited almost two hundred pictures at the Royal Academy but was never made an Academician, possibly influenced by his brother-in-law James Ward. Despite this he had nineteen plates published in The Sporting Magazine, he published Chalon's book of animals and birds of every description, and in 1804, Studies from Nature, which shows some Stubbs influence.