Lot 92: Pedro Vega y Munoz , Spanish 1840-1868 Derby Day, Epsom oil on canvas

signed Pedro de Vega (lower left) oil on canvas

measurements 20 by 30 in. alternate measurements 50.8 by 76.2 cm

Private Collection, United Kingdom

The world famous Epsom Derby dates back to 1661 (the first recorded race) and is one of the most iconic sporting and social events of the year. The race, held annually on the first weekend of June at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, is considered to be one of the most prestigious flat thoroughbred horse races in the world. As it is known today, the Derby originated at a celebration following the first running of the Epsom Oaks in 1779, a race organized by Edward Smith Stanley, the 12υth Earl of Derby, for himself and his friends and named after his estate. The following year the title of the race was decided after the Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury, a friend and leading racing figure of the day, flipped a coin, the winner of the toss having the race named after him. Despite losing the toss, Sir Charles's horse Diomed won the inaugural running in 1780. Many nineteenth century painters were fascinated by the sporting spectacle of Britain's classic horse racing events, perhaps most notably recorded in William Powell Frith's The Derby Day (1856-8, Tate Britain). As in the present work, Frith's primary concern was to record the diversity of the crowd in an exciting panorama of modern Victorian life with the race itself out of sight and the Grandstand in the distance. In the foreground of Derby Day, Epsom we see several bookmakers standing on chairs and barrels beside their flags and boards, the grass before them littered with losing tickets. The social diversity of the attendees is revealed in the variety of hats worn by the gentlemen on the left deliberating over wagers, including straw boaters, bowler and top hats as well as peaked caps. On the right a respectable middle-class family has spread out a picnic, while a dog makes off with a chicken leg. To the left, a lady and gentleman stand holding binoculars towards the racing, but we see instead the smart carriage before them and a group of gypsy beggars asking for money. This impressive picture is full of incident and activity recorded with great attention to detail.