Sir Alfred J. Munnings, P.R.A

Mrs. George, Norwich in 1928
The Fine Art Society, Ltd., London
Russell Family Collection, Carmel Valley, California (acquired in London)
Thence by descent

Norwich Castle Museum,  Loan Collection of Pictures by A.J. Munnings, R.A., August 16- September 30, 1928, no. 183

This work is closely related to the Ford and Horses Watering series that Munnings embarked upon between 1906-1911. In these works Munnings explores compositions with single or groups of ponies in or beside a stream or ford. Although Munnings’ favorite pony, Augereau, features in this and many of these works, the main theme is the complex problem of light’s reflections on the water.  As the artist explained: “On grey days my subject was by the shallow edge of the mill stream, where horses watered” (Sir Alfred Munnings, An Artist’s Life, London, 1950, p.139).  Certainly with the present work Munnings has not only captured the play of dimming dusk light on rippling water but has set the white of Augereau’s coat in contrast against the darker scene behind.   Being a staunch plein-air painter and adhering to impressionist color theory of reflected light, the artist has rendered the pony’ s coat with highlights of color that suggest the particular quality of the sunlight and the reflection of the water.

As revealed by provenance, Munnings’ well-known love of horses was often shared by his patrons and subsequent generations of collectors.  Indeed, soon after its purchase in London, the present work occupied a place of honor at the Double H Ranch in Carmel Valley, California.  The Double H was built in 1929 by Henry Russell and his wife Helen Crocker.  As founder and first president of the California Breeder’s Association, Mr. Russell dedicated himself to promoting the quality and visibility of the California bred racehorse.  This mission was continued with Charles Howland Russell’s presidency for five years in the 1970s.  The Henry P. Russell Handicap remains a premiere stakes race in Santa Anita, California and the Charles H. Russell Handicap ran at Bay Meadows until 2002.