A fine pair of sporting horse paintings of bay stallions in a stable by Albert Clark and son. The first painting shows a bay horse standing side-on with his head slightly turned, facing towards a horse trough on the right. Draped over the trough can be seen a horse blanket with the initials ‘RJM’. The second work also features a bay horse standing side-on but with the animal facing a stable door on the left. The horse is shown with his head half turned to reveal a distinctive white stripe running down his face. On the right is a trough with a blanket draped over it, also with the monogram ‘RJM’. Although the names of the horses and their owner have been lost over time, they were most likely commissioned to celebrate a racing or breeding success which occurred in the year they were painted or perhaps as a commemorative before they were sold on.

Albert Clark was born on 29 October 1843 in Hoxton London into the Clark family of artists. His father was the animal painter James Lawrence Clark (1812-1909) and his mother was Elizabeth London. His brothers Samuel James Clark (1841-1928), Octavius Thomas Clark (1850-1921) and half-brother James Albert Clark (1863-1955) all became artists. Two of his children Frederick Albert Clark (1869-1954) and William Albert Clark (1880-1963) also inherited the Clark talent for painting.

Given the similarity in style and subject matter, it is highly likely he was taught by his father alongside his brothers. He made his debut at an early age, being recorded as an artist at the age of just 17. His subjects initially followed that of his father and included horses, cattle and dogs. However, Albert soon began to specialise in horse portraits and received many commissions to paint race horses and show winners.

He married Ellen Parsons on 2 April, 1868 and together they had 4 children (Frederick Albert Clark being the youngest) and lived at 64 Shepperton Cottages, Islington. After the death of his first wife, he married Harriet Jane Ireland on 19 June, 1875. Together they had 3 more children, one of whom was William Albert Clark.

By 1881, he had moved to 81 Riversdale Road, Islington living on the same road as his father until his death in 1884. After this time, he set up a studio at his home with his son Frederick Albert who lived close by. Although they spent time working on their own paintings, they also collaborated on a number works which were signed Albert Clark and Son. It is possible that his youngest son William Albert may also have helped with these paintings.

This period seems to have coincided with him becoming deaf which could be one of the reasons he took up the partnership with his son for a time. Despite his hearing loss, Clark continued to travel around gaining commissions to paint prize winning horses. His second wife died in 1896 and sometime after 1901, he moved to the Seven Sisters Road in Tottenham where he spent the rest of his life. He died at Middlesex Hospital on 18 December, 1928.
Examples of his works can be found at the Totnes Elizabethan House Museum and Doncaster Museum.

© Benton Fine Art