Lot 174: The Leedes Arabian, being led by a groom, in a landscape

John Wootton (Snitterfield 1682 -1764 London) The Leedes Arabian, being led by a groom, in a landscape signed 'J.Wootton pinxt' (lower centre-left) oil on canvas 41¼ x 49¾ in. (104.7 x 126.3 cm.)

THE PROPERY OF A LADY (LOTS 174 AND 175)


The Leedes Arabian was foaled in circa 1695. He belonged to Englebert Leedes and passed, on Englebert's death in 1703, to his son Edward, along with the stud and North Milford Hall. As a stallion, he was very influential, almost on a par with the more well-known Byerley and Darley. Lady Wentworth once calculated that his name appeared over 100,000 times in the extended pedigree of the 1935 Triple crown winner Bahrum. The great stallion Herod, although separated by only about half a century, had three lines of The Leedes Arabian in his pedigree. One of his progeny was Leedes, also painted by Wootton, who was bought by Queen Anne for 1,000 guineas. Leedes was out of the mare Spanker, who also produced the full sisters Charming Jenny and Cream Cheeks, the latter was the grand dam of the great Flying Childers.