Lot 225: THOMAS SPENCER

THOMAS SPENCER UNKNOWN 1700 - 1753 PORTRAIT OF MR CHURCHMAN'S RONATA signed and dated lower right: T Spencer pinxt. 1757 , and inscribed: Mr Churchmans / Ronata. / Who never fail'd / or fall'd her master oil on canvas 213.5 by 304.5 cm; 84 by 120 in.

Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery (1882-1974), Mentmore Towers, Buckinghamshire;
sold by the executors of his deceased estate, on the premises, Sotheby's, 18th-23rd May 1977, lot 2459A (bt. for £9,000)

Spencer, who started his career as a portrait artist before turning to sporting commissions, painted many of the great sires of his day, including Crab, owned by Lord Portman, Dormouse, a handsome brown bay, son of the Godolphin Arabian belonging to Lord Clidworth, and Bay Bolton. He is perhaps particularly known today through his various engraved series of famous horse portraits, in which he seems to have collaborated with James Seymour. Most notable among these are the portraits of Lord Portmore's chestnut galloway, Silver Leg, Othello, the black son of old Crab, and Lord Cullen's Arabian.

The present painting is one of two works by Spencer originally owned by the Earl of Rosebery, both of which depict horses belonging to Mr. Churchman. The other, of exactly the same dimensions and also depictuing a horse held by a groom, was painted in 1730 and portrayed Churchman's blue roan mare Bonatee [i].

i. Sir W. Gilbey, Animal Painters of England, Vol II, London, 1900, p.179