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CHESHIRE ANTIQUES CONSULTANT LTD
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Frederick Albert Clark – Spion Kop, Winner of the 1920 Epsom Derby
An important signed English sporting oil painting by Frederick Albert Clark (1869–1954) depicting Spion Kop (1917–1941), winner of the 1920 Epsom Derby.
Painted and dated 1920, the very year of Spion Kop’s celebrated Derby victory, this handsome equestrian portrait is both an accomplished work of British sporting art and an evocative record of one of the most significant racehorses of his generation.
Clark depicts the chestnut colt standing proudly outside his stable, alert yet composed. Spion Kop’s attentive ears, bright expression and powerful stance give the portrait a convincing sense of individuality, while the beautifully modelled chestnut coat conveys the muscular condition and athletic refinement of the Thoroughbred.
The horse occupies the dominant position within the composition, standing slightly left of centre against the quieter architectural forms of the stable yard. An open stable door and folded blanket provide intimate details of the racing environment, while the high wall, glimpses of foliage and softly handled summer sky establish a restrained and atmospheric background.
Clark’s handling is particularly effective across the horse itself. Warm chestnut reds, siennas and ochres are built up to suggest the sheen and tonal variation of the coat, with carefully positioned highlights defining the shoulder, flank and powerful hindquarters. Finer brushwork around the face, eyes and mane gives Spion Kop an engaging sense of presence.
The surrounding stable yard is treated more freely. Broader passages of paint describe the timber, masonry and compacted earth, allowing the precise modelling of the horse to remain the visual focus. A softly painted shadow beneath Spion Kop anchors the animal convincingly within the space.
The resulting portrait is restrained rather than theatrical. Clark presents the Derby champion in quiet repose, allowing the horse’s physical presence and identity to carry the composition.
Spion Kop and the 1920 Epsom Derby
Spion Kop was foaled in 1917 and bred and owned by Major Giles Loder. Trained by Peter Gilpin he secured his place in British racing history on 2 June 1920, when he won the 141st running of the Epsom Derby.
Ridden by American jockey Frank O’Neill, Spion Kop came from behind to defeat Archaic and Orpheus, completing the race in a then record time of **2 minutes 34.8 seconds**.
The victory established Spion Kop as one of the notable racehorses of the immediate post-First World War period.
The fact that the present portrait is signed and dated 1920 gives the work particular historical resonance: it is not a later retrospective interpretation of a famous racehorse, but a contemporary sporting portrait painted during the year of Spion Kop’s greatest triumph.
The Artist
Frederick Albert Clark (1869–1954) was an accomplished English sporting and animal painter specialising in equine and canine portraiture.
He belonged to the distinguished Clark family of animal painters, whose work documented British horses, livestock and sporting life across several generations.
His father, Albert Clark (1843–1928), and grandfather, James Clark (1812–1909), were established animal painters, while his brother William Albert Clark (1880–1963) also continued the family tradition.
Frederick Albert Clark developed a particularly assured approach to equestrian portraiture, combining careful anatomical observation with an ability to communicate the temperament and individuality of a particular horse.
This portrait of Spion Kop demonstrates those qualities especially well. The horse is anatomically convincing and carefully modelled, yet the painting is not simply descriptive. Through expression, stance and subtle handling of light, Clark gives his celebrated subject considerable character and dignity.
The painting is signed and dated lower right in red: Frederick Albert Clark 1920.
Provenance
The reverse retains an original paper label identifying the painting as:
“Frederick Albert Clark – Spion Kop Winner of the Derby Stakes 1920 – Oil on canvas – signed and dated.”
A further historic inscription to the reverse records:
“Marie G. Loder’s Spion Kop Winner of the 1920 Derby Stakes, ridden by F. O’Neill.”
The painting was subsequently offered through Sworders, the established British auction house with a longstanding reputation for handling sporting, equestrian and traditional British art.
Thereafter acquired, researched and curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®*
The surviving label, inscription, signed 1920 date and subsequent auction history provide an especially appealing documentary context for this historic sporting portrait.
Details
Artist: Frederick Albert Clark (1869–1954)
Subject: Spion Kop (1917–1941)
Title: Spion Kop, Winner of the Derby Stakes 1920
Date: 1920
Origin: England
Medium: Oil on canvas
Genre: British sporting and equestrian painting
Signature: Signed and dated “Frederick Albert Clark 1920” lower right
Frame: Original giltwood frame
Dimensions
Overall framed:
72 cm wide x 63.5 cm high x 3.75 cm deep
The painting has an excellent decorative scale, large enough to command attention while remaining particularly suitable for a country house, study, library, drawing room, racing interior or collection of British sporting art.
Frame
Presented in its original giltwood frame with classical moulded detailing.
The warm aged gilding complements the chestnut colouring of the horse and the earthy palette of the stable setting particularly well.
The painting is fitted for hanging and ready for immediate display.
Condition
Presented in good antique condition consistent with its age of over 100 years.
The canvas has historically been relined for stability.
The painted surface displays age-related craquelure, areas of foxing and surface dust, together with some minor paint loss consistent with the painting’s age and history.
The original giltwood frame displays expected age-related wear, including scuffs and small chips, and retains an attractive established appearance.
The painting remains stable and presents well.
Please refer to the photographs as they form an important part of the condition assessment. Additional detailed images are available upon request.
Worldwide Shipping
Worldwide delivery is available.
The painting will be professionally packed using high-quality protective materials and dispatched fully insured for safe delivery.
International collectors are welcome, and further information regarding delivery can be provided upon request.
Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution
The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.
Attribution and Research
The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.
These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.
Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.
Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.
- Period: 1920
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- Price: £4,000.00
- €4,681 Euro
- $5,409 US Dollar
- Location: London
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- Dimensions: H: 63.5cm (25.00in)
- W: 72cm (28.35in)
- D: 3.75cm (1.48in)
