Lot 206

The painting generally presents well at normal viewing, with an unobtrusive craquelure consistent with age and light surface dirt. There is a small (roughly 1 x 1cm) area of retouching centre right, slightly darker than the surrounding paint (within a cloud, about 12cm above the rearmost part of the saddle, as visible in the catalogue photo); some repainting to the distant hillside visible between the groom and the horse; a small repaired puncture(?) to the horse's hindquarter; occasional small areas of wear to the paint surface (not obtrusive); and very occasional tiny paint flake losses.

Inspection under UV light suggests that, apart from the retouching referred to above, the paint layer has been undisturbed since the nineteenth century, if not earlier.

The canvas has been relined, evidently at some point in the second half of the twentieth century.

The antique gilt wood frame shows wear including some small gesso loss and various knocks and scuffs.



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The attribution on the plaque to 'J. Seymour' is presumably intended to refer to the notable horse painter James Seymour (1702–1752) but as this work was painted no earlier than 1770 (the latest date in the inscription painted on the plinth), it cannot be by him.