Abraham Cooper

The Day Family

1838

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Not on display
Artist
Abraham Cooper 1787–1868
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 968 x 1273 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Bequeathed by Mrs F. Ambrose Clark through the British Sporting Art Trust 1982
Reference
T03422

Display caption

This sporting portrait shows three generations of the Day family. John Barham Day (1794-1860) is shown standing by the carriage with a whip in his hand. He was a well-known trainer and jockey who established racing stables on the Hampshire Downs. His nickname 'Honest John Day' was ironic, for the Day stables became a centre of controversy over fraudulent betting. His five sons, three of whom are included here, were all successful jockeys.
Cooper was a pupil of Ben Marshall and was one of the few sporting artists to be elected a Royal Academician. He had a prolific output of racing and hunting scenes, many of which were exhibited at the Academy.

Gallery label, August 2004

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