James Seymour

The Late David Astor, The Manor House, Sutton Courtenay, 1949
Private collection

STRUCTURE The canvas has been relined. PAINT SURFACE The paint surface is generally sound; there are traces of a craquelure pattern consistent with a work of this age, as well as minor discolouration to the varnish. ULTRAVIOLET UV light reveals flecks of retouching to the groom and to the horse's saddle. FRAME Held in a plaster gilt frame in fair condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Molotto was a black colt foaled in 1736 by Whitefoot out of a sister to Miss Partner by Partner.  He was bred by Sir John Dutton, although both the sire and the dam had come from Lord Godolphin's stud at Babraham in Cambridgeshire.  Francis, 2^nd Earl of Godolphin kept detailed records that show the mare had produced a full sister to Molotto in 1735 described as being "a bay filly with no white."  This mare and foal were exchanged in a deal by Lord Godolphin for a horse of Sir John Dutton's called Blouze.  Presumably part of the deal was that Lord Godolphin could have back the mare's 1736 foal, as Molotto raced for Godolphin and not Sir John.

Molotto ran in heat races beginning his race career with a win at Huntingdon on 29^th July 1741.  Then he appears to have gone wrong running unaccountably badly at Newmarket.  However, he recovered his form to win a King's Plate at Nottingham on 6^th July 1742 where he beat a useful horse called Sportsman.  Molotto's finest performance was on 7^th April 1743 when he won the King's Plate at Newmarket, beating a high class animal named Forester, who had beaten Molotto in a race the previous season, with Sportsman further back. The colt was then sold to a Mr Parsons for whom he recorded one final career victory in a £50 plate back at Huntingdon on 27^th July 1744, beating six others.

Molotto does not appear to have been used as a stallion even though he was still entire in 1744.  Note in Seymour's picture that Lord Godolphin, or his later owner Parsons, had employed the fashionable practice of the day of having the horse's ears cropped, hence their stubby, unnatural appearance.

We are grateful to Graham Budd for his assistance in cataloguing this work.