Lot 26
  • 26

Sir Alfred Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. 1878-1959

Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 GBP
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Description

  • Study for 'Lord Astor with his Mares and Foals'
  • signed twice
  • oil on board
  • 30.5 by 51cm., 12 by 20in.

Provenance

Commissioned by William Waldorf, 2nd Viscount Astor, and thence by direct family descent to the present owner

Exhibited

Venice, XXII Biennale Internazionale d’Arte di Venezia, British Council Fine Arts Committee, 1940, no.52 (as Lord Astor on Shooting Stick with Horses).

Catalogue Note

A study for the large oil showing Lord Astor seated on a shooting stick surveying five pairs of mares and foals (Private Collection, see Sir Alfred Munnings, The Second Burst, Museum Press Limited, London, 1951, illustrated between pp.216 and 217). Munnings admired Lord Astor hugely for his prowess as one of the greatest owner-breeders of his day and Lady Astor for her sparkling personality. In his autobiography he relates a visit from Lady Astor during one of her husband's sittings: '''How is the Viscount sitting?'' asked the incomparable Lady Astor one day.
''Very well,'' said I , ''but this morning he sat in a different coat without a slit in the back, and I could not bother to tell him.''
''Well,'' said she, ''all you had to do was to take the big scissors from the harness-room and cut a slit there and then right up the back of the Viscount's coat!''
There is nobody like Lady Astor.' (op.cit., p.220).