James Ward, R.A.

Art market, United Kingdom, by 2025;

Where acquired by the present owner.

Possibly E. Nygren, 'James Ward, R.A. (1769–1859) Papers and Patrons', in The Volume of the Walpole Society, vol. 75, 2013, p. 345, under no. 405.

Whilst his career commenced initially in engraving, James Ward would become one of the most highly regarded animal painters of his day, culminating in his acceptance into the Royal Academy in 1811. In this charming work, he depicts Primrose, the prize mare of Augustus Henry FitzRoy, the 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735–1811), tenderly watching over her foal. From the historic family seat at Euston Hall, Suffolk, the Duke of Grafton and his son bred generations of high calibre, prize-winning horses, such as Primrose. Indeed, from 1800–20, horses from Euston Hall had won the Derby and Oaks twelve times.

The composition of this painting was first conceived by Ward for a series of lithographs entitled Celebrated Horses, published by Rudolph Ackermann in April 1823.¹ These were commissioned by George IV (1762–1830), a notable racehorse fan. Since then, various iterations of this composition have emerged. Whilst the present painting diverges from the lithograph in the exclusion of the rock details below Primrose, it has comparable dimensions with a version that was sold at Sotheby's London, 15 March 1967, lot 67.²

¹ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Primrose_and_Foal_(BM_1936,1105.8).jpg

² https://photocollections.courtauld.ac.uk/sec-menu/search/detail/046ddee2-249a-11ee-83f0-ac1f6ba5d150/media/553840d0-614f-f317-d56d-3dae6331a06c?mode=detail&view=list&rows=1&page=109&fq%5B%5D=search_s_folder_name:%22Courtauld_002126_Witt_024770%20%2F%20Ward,%20James%20%2F%20Animals%20Without,%20Figures,%20Horses%20%5C%2B%20Donkeys,%20Only%22&sort=order_s_accession_number%20asc&filterActio