Lucy Kemp-Welch

Colt Hunting in the New Forest

1897

© David Messums Fine Art Ltd

License this image

Not on display

Artist: Lucy Kemp-Welch 1869–1958
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 1537 × 3060 mm
frame: 2007 × 3550 × 120 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1897
Reference: N01649

Catalogue entry

N01649 COLT HUNTING IN THE NEW FOREST 1897

Inscr. ‘Lucy Kemp-Welch 1897’ b.r.
Canvas, 60 1/2×120 (153·5×305·5).
Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1897.
Exh: R.A., 1897 (346).
Repr: Royal Academy Pictures, 1897, p.56; Sir Edward Poynter, The National Gallery, III, 1900, p.137; The Nation's Pictures, I, 1901, p.45 (in colour).

Herds of wild ponies in the New Forest are hunted out and driven to some local fair, where some are sold and the rest set free. The artist had studied at a horse hospital at Christchurch and knew the New Forest well.

She wrote (11 October 1958): ‘On the advice of Prof. Herkomer, the painting of the splendid subject of “Colt Hunting” was delayed for two years as he did not want me to attempt it until I had at least passed into the “Life Class” at the School. (It was sound advice.)’

Published in:
Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, London 1964, I