Lot 26: ROBERT BYNG

ROBERT BYNG WILTSHIRE 1666 - 1720 OXFORD 'CARPENTER' , LORD CRAVEN'S HUNTER, HELD BY A NEGRO PAGE inscribed on the relining: Carpenter/ the Lord Craven's/ Hunter/ R Byng pinxt 1701 oil on canvas 60 by 75 cm.; 23½ by 29½ in.

By family descent until sold London, Phillips, 11 December 1984, lot 118, (bt. for £8,000).

The horse in this picture was owned by William Craven (1668-1711), nephew and heir of Sir William Craven. He married Elizabeth, sister of Sir Fulwar Skipwith Bt. of Newbold Hall.

Robert Byng and his brother Edward were pupils of Sir Godfrey Kneller and worked as assistants in Kneller's studio. Byng also painted a portrait of William Craven's two sons, William and Fulwar, in 1702.