Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm R.A., British 1834-1890

Cremorne was a bay colt foaled in 1869 by Parmesan out of Rigolboche. He was owned by Mr Henry Savile, who had bred the colt at his stud at Rufford Abbey, and was trained by William Gilbert at Newmarket.

Cremorne had an outstanding race career and won a total of 20 races from 26 starts. The highlight was his victory in the 1872 Derby, the first time the race was run over the present Derby course at Epsom. As a two-year-old, the colt had announced his class by winning nine of his eleven races. After his Derby win, Cremorne travelled to France and won the Grand Prix de Paris, the most prestigious race in France at the period. On his return, he notched up a further five wins (from six races) for Mr Savile including the Newmarket Derby. As a four-year-old, Cremorne won an amazing three races at the Royal Ascot meeting inlcluding the Gold Cup, which he won by an easy eight lengths.

Mr Savile retired Cremorne to Rufford Abbey in 1875 where he stood at a fee of 100 guineas. He sired a number of notable winners including Bellicent, Thurio, Cadogan, Cameliard, Roysterer and, perhaps the best of them all, Lord Rosebery's filly Kermesse who was a top performing two-year-old. On the death of Henry Savile in 1881 he was purchased by Mr A.S. Lumley for 5,400 guineas. Cremorne, always a gluttonous horse requiring a good deal of exercise, was found dead on the morning of 7th January 1883 from a rupture of the heart, caused by lack of physical activity and over-eating.

Henry Savile was a member of the Jockey Club, a notable patron of the Turf and an extremely popular man, famous for his loyalty & generosity to those whom he employed. It is assumed that the present sculpture was privately commissioned by Savile to suitably commemorate his magnificent champion, and as such is a unique work.

Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm was born in Vienna 6th July 1834, the son of Joseph Daniel Boehm, a Hungarian sculptor, under whom he studied. He also studied in Paris and Italy before settling in England in 1862. He was said to have been a dashing man with a lithe figure and a witty tongue who absorbed himself into English society very easily. In the words of the painter Edward Burne-Jones Boehm's was "a personality that was fascinating; the brightest company and the dearest way of laughing".

Boehm had many patrons amongst nobility & royalty. Queen Victoria admired Boehm's sculpture immensely and she appointed him Sculptor in Ordinary. He was elected RA in 1882. His body of work encompasses portrait busts as well as his very powerful equestrian studies in bronze. The present work in silver is a most unusual diversion of medium in his work.

Boehm's death on the night of 12th December 1890 caused a riot of speculation in Victorian society when it was whispered that he died in the arms of HRH the Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, the sixth child of Queen Victoria.