Property from a New York Private Collection
JOHN NOST SARTORIUS | THE DUKE OF GRAFTON'S HORSE WHISKER VICTORIOUS OVER GENERAL GOWER'S HORSE RAPHAEL AT THE FINISH OF THE 1815 DERBY STAKES
Lot Closed
May 29, 07:26 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Property from a New York Private Collection
JOHN NOST SARTORIUS
London 1759 - 1828
THE DUKE OF GRAFTON'S HORSE WHISKER VICTORIOUS OVER GENERAL GOWER'S HORSE RAPHAEL AT THE FINISH OF THE 1815 DERBY STAKES
signed and inscribed lower left: The Duke of Grafton's Whiskers beating Genl Gowers/ Raphael over Epsom, May 23rd 1815 for the Derby Stake/ of 50g Each 51 Subrs (rs in superscript) 8at (at in superscript) 7 Eh (h in superscript)...1/2 J.N. Sartorius
oil on canvas
canvas: 23¼ by 28¾ in.; 59.1 by 73 cm.
framed: 29¼ by 34¼ in.; 74.3 by 87 cm.
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 12 March 1986, lot 113;
There acquired.
John Nost Sartorius was one of the leading sporting artists of his day, and was patronized by the most famous sportsmen, including the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Derby, and others. The horse in this painting, Whisker, was owned by George, Henry 4th Duke Grafton (1760 - 1844), the trainer of six other Derby winners. Ridden by Tom Goodisson, he won the Derby in 1815 beating the favorite, General Gower's Raphael, by a short lead. Whisker's later racing career was undistinguished and he was sold to Lord Darlington and retired to stud. He sired The Colonel, the 1828 St. Leger winner, and his mares produced Cotherstone and Mundig, both Derby winners, the St. Leger winner Mango and Euclid, who dead-heated for the 1839 St. Leger.