A wonderful sporting horse portrait painting of the racehorse General Peace by John Alfred Wheeler. A bay stallion can be seen standing in a stable facing towards the left. The pose shows off the horse’s fine proportions as well as the distinctive white stripe down his face and bird catcher spot on his back. General Peace was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1894 out of Moira and sired by Gallinule. He was originally owned by Noble Johnson from Ireland until he was sold to Captain Bewicke in 1898. He was trained by J Powney and won a number of races including the Liverpool Autumn cup in 1897, the Visitor’s Plate at Goodwood in 1898, Lincolnshire handicap in 1899 and the Paris Hurdle Race in 1900. At stud, he notably sired the 1908 Irish Oaks winner, Queen of Peace. The painting was most likely commissioned by the owner to celebrate his racing achievements.

John Alfred Wheeler was born in Andoversford, Gloucestershire on 13 March, 1821 to John and Sophia Wheeler. He came from humble beginnings but went on to became the founder of a dynasty of painters which included his sons Alfred Wheeler (1851-1932) and James Thomas Wheeler (1849-1888) and his grandsons John Frederick Wheeler and Walter Herbert Wheeler, who were all skilled artists.

Although little has been found about his early life, he was known to have served in the 2nd regiment of the Dragoon Guards, a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1841-1847. After his discharge, he married Eliza Coat on 10 May, 1847 and they lived at 16 Corpus Street in Cheltenham where he soon established himself as an artist. He specialised in portraits of dogs and horses as well as sporting scenes. He also produced a number of military paintings featuring horses.

By 1861, the family had moved to Bath living in the Walcot area, but around 1877 relocated to London, where they lived at 22 Oxford Road, Ealing. Wheeler achieved considerable success earning commissions from wealthy patrons such as the Duke of Portland, the Duke of Westminster, the Earl of Caithness and Baron Rothschild. During the mid 1880’s he moved to Bath Villa, in Hanwell where he lived for the rest of his life. He died at Hanwell in 1903.

Wheeler is considered to be one of the most accomplished animal artists of his day. Examples of his work are held by the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, the National Trust, Somerset Military Museum and the Salford Museum & Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art