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Dimensions: measurements note 71 by 106.5 cm., 28 by 48 in.
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Provenance: Arthur Bendir, Medmenham Abbey, Buckinghamshire, his sale, Sotheby's, 24th June 1942, lot 80 (bt. B. Barnett for £420);
Private Collection, Canada, until sold Sotheby's, New York, 9th June 1989, lot 75
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Literature: J. Egerton, British Sporting and Animal Paintings 1655-1867, 1978, p.297
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Notes: PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION
"I have seen all the best horses that have flourished and had their day for more than sixty years past, and I now repeat my well-considered opinion, that Priam was the most perfect racehorse I ever saw. His constitution was magnificently sound, his temperament and nervous system beautifully attuned; his shape, make and action were faultless." These words from his trainer John Kent confirms the general opinion that Priam, seen in a famous victory in this picture by Herring, was, in the words of The Sporting Magazine, the "Best Horse in the World". Priam was a dark bay, foaled in 1827 and bred by Sir John Shelley by Emilius (the 1823 Derby winner) out of Cressida by Whiskey. When a yearling he was sold at auction to Mr Dilly for 1000 guineas. Dilly sold him to William Chifney for whom he won the Derby in 1830, though he narrowly lost the St Leger in the same year to Birmingham. He had success in the Craven Meeting in the spring of 1831 and was then bought by George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield for 3000 guineas. Lord Chesterfield greatly admired the horse and said that he "could gaze at the colt all day, and considered him the only faultless blood-horse he had ever seen". The match painted by Herring took place at Newmarket on Thursday 20th October 1831. Priam was ridden by Jem Robinson. His opponent, Augustus, was a chestnut stallion owned by Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter. Augustus had come fourth in the 1830 Derby and it was commented on the Match: "a system of betting commenced as I have never seen exceeded... Priam had to carry 9st. 2lb. and Augustus 8st., a most disproportionate weight for horses of the same year... Priam became the favourite and won with ease three-fourths of a length". Priam subsequently won the King's Guineas at Newmarket, the Eclipse-Foot at Ascot and the Cup at Goodwood in 1832. He was then retired to stud at Bretby Park, his most famous offspring being Crucifix, one of the greatest fillies in racing history. In 1834 he was imported to America. Herring was the most comprehensive painter of racehorses in the nineteenth century. At the age of twenty he painted the winner of the 1815 St Leger and this was to be the first of a long series which included 21 Derby winners, 34 St Leger winnners and 11 Oaks winners. He was without rival in his ability to capture the movement and tension of horses taking part in a race, and he mastered the art of depicting horses galloping at speed. He was also a superb portrait painter, and he was able to depict the individual features of each jockey. This fine picture combines his expertise as portrait painter with his superb facility in capturing the excitement of horses competing in a race. It shows him at the height of his powers and is a superb example of his work.
