A fine horse portrait of a chestnut hunter in a stable by George Wright. A stallion is shown standing facing the left with his head slightly turned towards the viewer, allowing us to see his fine proportions. His coat has been clipped for winter in a traditional hunter clip. This includes an unclipped saddle shaped patch on his back for cushioning and unclipped legs to protect them during jumping or cross-country work. On the far left is a grey blanket with the initial ‘M’ embroidered on it. Although the name of the horse and his owner have been lost over time, the portrait was probably commissioned by the owner to commemorate the horse in some way, perhaps before being sold on.

George Wright was a sporting and landscape artist who was born in Leeds on 30 June, 1860. He was the son of George Edward Wright, a bookkeeper and cashier and his wife Elizabeth. His brother Gilbert Scott Wright (1880-1958) and his sister Louisa also became artists. He lived with his family at 22 South Ridge Street in Holbeck, where his father worked for a local felt factory, later moving to Victoria Road, Headingley.

Wright specialised in highly detailed sporting and coaching scenes usually featuring horses and was highly skilled at painting them in action. He was himself a keen huntsman which gave him the inspiration to paint hunting scenes and also led to many commissions from fellow sportsmen and horse owners. Early on in his career he often worked with his brother Gilbert submitting illustrations for calendars. He married Rose Ellen Tribe on 30 March, 1885 at St Augustine’s Church in Wrangthorn, near Leeds. The couple made their home in Wrangthorn where their two children were born. Sometime during the early 1890’s they moved to 26 Regents Park Road, in Headingley, Leeds. He is also known to have spent time in Annan, in South west Scotland painting the scenery there. It was from Annan where his began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1892.

By the turn of the century had established himself as a successful artist and had moved to Buckingam House, 150 Clifton Road in Rugby, Warwickshire. He continued living in Rugby until 1904 when he made the move to Summerton in Oxford residing at Bilton Lodge on Lathbury Road. From 1925 he worked for Ackermanns in the U.K. and Grand Central Galleries in New York and had many exhibitions at both galleries. Around 1929, Wright and his family moved to 84 Kings Road in Richmond, Surrey where he continued to paint. Whilst in Surrey he also hunted with the Old Surrey and Burstow hunt. In the early 1940’s he made his final move to 3 Queens Park Gardens Seaford where he died in Seaford, Sussex on 11 March, 1944.

Examples of his paintings can be found at the Hepworth Gallery, Southampton City Art Gallery, Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art