Lot 776: John Duvall (1816 - 1892), oil on canvas - 'Suffolk Ox age 4 years, 11 mont

John Duvall (1816 - 1892), oil on canvas - 'Suffolk Ox age 4 years, 11 months', signed - 'Duvall', inscribed as titled to stretcher, further inscribed - 'M. Biddell', 41cm x 51cm, in gilt frame. N.B. John Duvall counted the Biddell family amongst his chief patrons. In 1880, Duvall produced the illustrations for Herman Biddell's The Suffolk Stud Book, and it was through this association that Duvall became synonymous with the depiction of Suffolk horses. Manfred Biddell was Herman's elder brother, a successful farmer and horse breeder. Newspaper fragments attached to the reverse of the present picture suggest that Manfred's Suffolk Ox pictured was a Prizewinner at the Suffolk Fat Cattle Club, 1875. The Prize Suffolk shown by Mr Biddell at the last show of the club and much the heaviest one shown, was slaughtered by Mr Banyard of Grundisburgh and weighed alive 204 stone and dead 129 stone, 10 pounds, being we believe the heaviest ox ever killed of the pure Suffolk breed