John Frederick Herring Sr.

With Sabin Gallery, London;

With Frost & Reed Ltd, London, no. 58577;

Anonymous sale, Deauville, Tradart, 24 August 2013, lot 11, for £24,010;

Where acquired by the present owner.

Industry was a successful bay filly by Priam, out of Arachne. Foaled in 1835 she would go on to win the Epsom Oaks in 1838 for her owner and breeder, George Augustus Frederick, 6th Earl of Chesterfield (1805–1866). The Earl of Chesterfield was known for his extravagant lifestyle and took a keen interest in horse racing. He owned many successful Classic winning racehorses including Priam, Don John and Lady Evelyn. Caroline Elvina also ran in the 1838 Oaks and was depicted alongside Industry in another painting by Herring, dated 1838.¹ Herring is known to have painted Industry in two other pictures, both dated 1838: a small oil on panel depicting Industry in a loose box; and an oil on canvas similar to the present work, measuring 33.7 x 44.5 cm., of Industry with her jockey, William Scott, in an open landscape. In this painting, Herring depicts the Epsom Grandstand in the background, built in 1830 and designed to hold five thousand spectators.

¹ The Earl of Chesterfield's Industry with W. Scott up and Caroline Elvina with J. Holmes up in a Paddock, Sotheby's, New York, 5 December 2008, lot 133, for £188,888.