John Frederick Herring

The Frugal Meal

exhibited 1847

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
John Frederick Herring 1795–1865
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 546 x 749 mm
frame: 810 x 1150 x 130 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Presented by Robert Vernon 1847
Reference
N00452

Display caption

Herring was a self-taught artist who is perhaps best known as a painter of race-horses. Between 1815 and 1849 he portrayed many of the winners of the classic races of the time. However, in the latter part of his career, his subject-matter changed - perhaps under the influence of Sir Edwin Landseer (1803-1874) - from conventional equestrian portraits to sentimental depictions of domestic animals in farmyards or stables. These later works, such as 'The Frugal Meal', are amongst his most original and sensitive pictures. Herring adopted the format of closely grouped horses' heads for several compositions in the 1840s. The horses were often shown drinking or eating at a manger, accompanied by birds or other small creatures.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

You might like

John Frederick Herring, ‘The Hunting Stud’ 1845

John Frederick Herring The Hunting Stud

1845
T03430
John Frederick Herring, ‘Mazeppa Pursued by Wolves (after Horace Vernet)’ 1833

John Frederick Herring Mazeppa Pursued by Wolves (after Horace Vernet)

1833
T00188
John Frederick Herring, ‘Mazeppa Surrounded by Horses (after Horace Vernet)’ c.1833

John Frederick Herring Mazeppa Surrounded by Horses (after Horace Vernet)

c.1833
T00189
John Frederick Herring, ‘Birmingham with Patrick Conolly Up, and his Owner, John Beardsworth’ 1830

John Frederick Herring Birmingham with Patrick Conolly Up, and his Owner, John Beardsworth

1830
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T02361
Thomas Sidney Cooper, ‘Milking Time - Study of a Farm-Yard near Canterbury’ 1833–4, exhibited 1834

Thomas Sidney Cooper Milking Time - Study of a Farm-Yard near Canterbury

1833–4, exhibited 1834
N00435
John Frederick Herring, ‘Manuella, at Richard Watt’s Stud Farm, Bishop Burton, Yorkshire’ 1825

John Frederick Herring Manuella, at Richard Watt’s Stud Farm, Bishop Burton, Yorkshire

1825
T02362
Charles Cooper Henderson, ‘Sportsmen in Scottish Dress Driving to the Moors’ c.1845

Charles Cooper Henderson Sportsmen in Scottish Dress Driving to the Moors

c.1845
T03428
George Mason, ‘Italian Landscape’ c.1845–58

George Mason Italian Landscape

c.1845–58
N02970
Charles Cooper Henderson, ‘Mail Coach in a Snowstorm’ c.1835–40

Charles Cooper Henderson Mail Coach in a Snowstorm

c.1835–40
T03429
John Linnell, ‘Landscape(‘The Windmill’)’ 1844–5, exhibited 1845

John Linnell Landscape(‘The Windmill’)

1844–5, exhibited 1845
N00439
Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, ‘A Dialogue at Waterloo’ exhibited 1850

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer A Dialogue at Waterloo

exhibited 1850
N00415
Thomas Woodward, ‘Horses Surprised by Wolves’ 1842

Thomas Woodward Horses Surprised by Wolves

1842
N05426
John Linnell, ‘Harvest Home, Sunset: The Last Load’ 1853

John Linnell Harvest Home, Sunset: The Last Load

1853
N02060
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, ‘Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation)’ 1849–50

Dante Gabriel Rossetti Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation)

1849–50
N01210
Richard Dadd, ‘The Flight out of Egypt’ 1849–50

Richard Dadd The Flight out of Egypt

1849–50
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N05767