A fine sporting horse portrait of the racehorse Worcester by Albert Clark. The horse is shown standing side-on, facing left in a straw filled stable with his head slightly turned towards the viewer to reveal a white blaze down his face. His positioning also shows the distinctive markings on his lower front leg to the right and lower hind legs. To the far right, a white blanket with the monogram ‘B’ can be seen draped over a trough.

Worcester was a liver coloured chestnut horse foaled in 1890 out of Elegance by Saunterer. He was bred and raced by James Best at Hold Castle and trained by Joseph Cannon. At age three he won the Clarence and Avondale Stakes at Sandown Park and in 1895 won the Doncaster Spring Handicap, the Epsom Plate and Ascot's Trial Stakes. He was purchased by Barney Barnato in 1896 and was moved to trainer William Leader in Wroughton. In the same year, he won the Epsom's City and Suburban Handicap, Ascot's Trial Stakes for a second time, Newmarket's July Cup and the Southdown Plate. After Barnato’s tragic death in 1897, Worcester was inherited by his nephew Jack Barnato Joel. The portrait would most likely have been commissioned by the owner to celebrate the horse’s sporting achievements or breeding success and perhaps with the inclusion of the monogram a nod to his uncle and family name of Barnato.

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