Capital hosts feast of equine art

A rare private collection Sir Alfred Munnings will go on public display in London this summer

A collection of paintings by one of Britain’s most renowned equine artists of the 20th century, Sir Alfred Munnings, is expected to raise around £5 million when it goes up for auction on 12 June.

There is a preview of the exhibition until today (8 March). It then goes on tour to the Rockefeller Centre, New York (11-15 April) and to the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin (30 April) before it is exhibited ahead of the sale at Christie’s from 26 May.

The 21 oil paintings, watercolours and sketches show many aspects of equestrian sporting life.

The single collection belonged to the late Dr Charles Bunting, a wealthy owner of a Norwich department store, who died last year. His father built up the collection between 1900 and 1915.

Munnings (1878 – 1959) is said to have had a close relationship with two generations of the Bunting family, living and working not far from their home in Norfolk.

A spokesperson for Christie’s said: “The Bunting Collection is considered to be the last major collection of early works bythe renowned British equine painter still in private hands.”

Several of the works depict Ned Osborne, the artist’s model and groom with eight of Sir Alfred Munning’s horses including Coming through the Gap, an oil canvas painted in 1910 and estimated to be worth between £1.2 to £1.8 million.

Other works are Crossing the Ford expected to raise between £500,000 and £800,000 and On the Ringland Hills, Norfolk expected to raised between £300,000 and £500,000.

• Read how sponsorship has helped a young equine artist.

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