Latest from Horse & Hound in Sir-alfred-munnings

Munnings painting celebrating lifelong hunting friendship sells for £105,000

Lucy Elder — Thu, 06 May 2021 16:26:32 +0000

A painting by the great Sir Alfred Munnings that was given as a gift to a lifelong friend, who he met through their mutual love of hunting, has sold for a six-figure sum.

The oil painting, “View from Selworthy”, was estimated to reach between £6,000 and £8,000 at Gildings Auctioneers’ online fine and decorative arts and antiques sale (27 April).

But the artwork far surpassed its valuation, to sell for almost 18 times its estimate, £105,000.

“After being exhibited in the Leicester Gallery in London in November 1947, ‘View from Selworthy’ has remained in the family ever since, and so the sale gave collectors a chance to acquire a truly fresh-to-market work by one of Britain’s most celebrated 20th century artists,” said Gildings’ director and 20th century decorative art specialist, Will Gilding.

“As a vocal critic of modernism, Munnings’ fine depictions of hunting scenes and rural landscapes such as the one seen here represent a deep affinity with a traditional rural way of life.”

The story behind the painting captures a snapshot of hunting history, hinted at through a plaque on the frame, which reads: “Presented to Miss Sybil Harker from members of the Norwich Staghounds as a token of their appreciation for all the work she did for The Hunt during her thirteen years of Mastership 1932-1945.”

Sir Alfred and Miss Harker became friends as a result of Munnings’ frequent rides out with the Norwich Staghounds, where he was given unofficial status as “artist to the hunt”.

Reflecting on this, he wrote: “I could fill a volume if I began to recount the many adventures and doings when following hounds in Norfolk.”

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Sir Alfred is one of the UK’s most distinguished modern equine and rural landscape artists, and Miss Harker is also the subject of one of his most famous paintings, “Sibyl Harker on Saxa, with the Norwich Staghounds”. This is a portrait of his friend riding side-saddle on her bay hunter, with her favourite hound in the foreground and Wymondham Abbey in the distance.

While “View from Selworthy” was presented to Miss Harker for her service to the hunt from 1932-1945, she returned to the role after the Second World War and was a master for more than 30 years in total.

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Film about equine artist Munnings to be released next week

Flora Watkins — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:00:07 +0000

Summer In February, the film about the great equine artist Sir Alfred Munnings, will be released in the UK on Friday, 14 June.

The film stars Dominic Cooper as Munnings and Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey fame as his friend, Gilbert Evans. It tells the story of the artist’s fateful love affair with his first wife, Florence, played by Emily Browning.

Two premiers are being held at the Curzon cinema in Mayfair, London next week, to raise money for equestrian charities. The 10 June screening, hosted by Clare Balding, is in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund and Retraining of Racehorses.

On 11 June, Sir Peter O’Sullevan — who knew Munnings well — hosts a second screening, in aid of his charitable trust.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (6 June 2013)

New film and show celebrate iconic equestrian artist Munnings

Flora Watkins — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:27:29 +0000

The genius of one of England’s greatest equine artists, Sir Alfred Munnings, is being celebrated with a major exhibition of his work and a feature film.

More than 50 works went on show at the Richard Green Gallery in Bond Street, London on 14 November.

The film Summer in February — starring Dominic Cooper as Munnings and Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey fame as his friend Gilbert Evans (pictured) — is currently in post-production. It is due to be released in the new year.

Richard Green told H&H “the time was ripe to stage a show spanning Munnings’ career”.

He added that works such as Miss Millicent Baron on Magpie show Munnings’ “understanding of the personality and anatomy of a fine horse”.

The film tells the story of the early part of Munnings’ career. Based on the novel by Jonathan Smith, it tells the tragic love affair between the artist and his first wife Florence, who is depicted in the painting Two Lady Riders Under An Evening Sky.

Producer Jeremy Cowdrey told H&H he was amazed that no one had filmed the story before.

“Munnings as a personality and character was so interesting and lively,” he said. “He bounced off the page in the novel and Dominic Cooper, playing him in the film, just bounces off the screen.”

James Johnston of the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum in Dedham, Essex — which lent 25 works to the exhibition — said he hoped renewed interest in the artist would make people realise “how incredibly good” he was.

“There is a slight feeling that Munnings has not had the recognition he deserves.

“But there is a section of the population — including your readers — that is aware of the brilliant way he painted horses, whether standing, hunting or at the beginning of a race,” he added.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 November 2012)

Stables and land belonging to Munnings Collection for rent

Flora Watkins — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:29:55 +0000

Fans of equestrian artist Sir Alfred Munnings might wish to relocate to north Essex, where a unique livery opportunity is being offered.

Stables and land belonging to the Munnings Collection in Dedham, near Colchester, are available to rent for the first time in many years.

They come with a secure tackroom and feed store.

Sir Alfred’s house – which is home to the museum – forms the backdrop to the 2.6-acre field.

It featured in his 1935 work, My Wife, My Horse and Myself.

“These facilities were all, of course, used by Munnings and his wife Violet,” said Diane Roe from the museum.

“They bred their own hunters from racing stock. Violet was actually a bit of a horsey snob and only rode really smart thoroughbreds,” she told H&H.

“We have a letter from Munnings to Violet in which he mentions some ‘cobby types’ he has seen – and says, ‘Not that you’d be seen dead on them, of course!'”

Ms Roe stresses that less smart horses are just as welcome as those who would have passed muster with Lady Violet.

“If you are a Munnings fan, I should think it would be thrilling to have your horses here,” she added.

Contact Diane Roe tel: 01206 322127 or visit www.siralfredmunnings.co.uk.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (16 February 2012)

Early Munnings painting expected to make £700,000

Horse & Hound — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:32:07 +0000

An early painting by Sir Alfred Munnings will go on sale in an auction for the first time on 17 March.

The painting — The Start, Newmarket — leads the Bonhams New Bond Street’s sale of 20th century British art with an estimated price tag of between £500,000 and £700,000.

Munnings found fame through his paintings of racehorse and The Start is thought to have been completed in the mid 1930s.

The painting depicts a group of horses jockeying for position at the start of a race.

Munnings studied equine anatomy extensively in Stubbs’ Anatomy of the Horse. He believed the start of a race embodied the power of the thoroughbred racer and the suspense involved in racing.

The work is a smaller version of October Meeting, Newmarket, destroyed during the Blitz in World War Two, which Munnings also illustrated in his book, Pictures of Horses and English Life.

Bonhams, one of the world’s largest and oldest auctioneers of fine art, acquired the painting from the family of the original owner, prominent English racehorse owner and breeder JV Rank, whose wife purchased the painting from the Leicester Galleries in 1938.

Other highlights of the sale include newly discovered work by David Bomberg, a collection of paintings by John Craxton and four bronzes by Dame Elisabeth Frink.

To place a bid at the auction, pre-register at www.bonhams.com

Sir Alfred Munnings exhibition opens

Horse & Hound — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:15:03 +0000

Over 80 paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings have gone on display at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket (2 April).

Widely regarded as one of the foremost equestrian painters of the 20th century, Munnings’ work sells for huge prices internationally.

The exhibition, which runs until 4 November, features paintings, oil studies and sketches and provides a fascinating inside into Munnings’ life and artistic technique.

Photographs of Munnings’ early life and family, never before seen by the public, are also included in the exhibition.

“This is a rare opportunity to learn of Sir Alfred Munnings life story alongside some fine examples of his work,” said museum acting director Graham Snelling.

For more information contact the National Horseracing Museum, 99 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JH or (tel: 01638 667333).