Painting Strawberry Grey Roan Hunter Horse & Terrier Circle John Sargent Noble

Equine Masterpiece in Oil
A Gentleman’s Hunter — Strawberry Grey Roan Horse in Stable with Terrier
Circle of John Sargent Noble (c.1885)
Subject & Medium
Rendered in oil on canvas, this evocative Victorian sporting interior captures a poised strawberry roan gentleman’s hunter standing with quiet nobility inside a timber stable, attended by a lively terrier seated attentively at its feet. The warm, earthy glow of the stable environment evokes the intimate calm of pre-hunt preparation or post-ride repose. The strawberry roan coat—a highly sought-after and visually distinctive coloration—is interpreted with sensitivity, lending individuality and refined equestrian prestige to the composition. This pairing of hunter and terrier symbolizes loyalty, companionship, and the gentlemanly sporting life of the late nineteenth century.
Composition & Technique
The composition is carefully balanced: the horse commands central presence with upright dignity, while the terrier provides intimacy, warmth, and narrative connection. The stable environment is painted in warm ochres, russet umbers, and soft straw tones, creating an understated, atmospheric backdrop that enhances rather than distracts.
The palette and brushwork strongly align with the circle of John Sargent Noble:
Dog handling: The terrier is rendered with short, bristly impasto strokes, especially across the muzzle and chest, with tiny pinpoint eye highlights—an unmistakably Noble characteristic capturing the dog’s alert, lively personality.
Horse topline and edges: A slightly dark, emphatic contour runs along the horse’s neck and back, providing definition and form. Modeling is confident but not polished to an enamel finish, allowing the musculature to feel organic and responsive to light.
Stable interior structuring: The interior is composed as a warm, simplified plane with visible sketch-like construction and shadow lines near the feet and along the boarding—entirely typical of Noble’s working approach in smaller and medium-sized stable pieces.
Hooves and grounding: The hooves are subtly blocky in form, deliberately softened rather than sharply defined. Shadowing beneath is elongated and diffused, avoiding the crisp “shoe-plate” precision often found in more academic renderings.
Surface treatment: Moderate impasto highlights trace across the shoulder and upper flank, giving the coat a sense of sheen and vitality.
Overall impression: The restrained interior and warmly diffused palette serve as a stage for the contrast between the horse’s calm stability and the terrier’s spirited immediacy—a compositional hallmark of Noble’s equestrian interiors.
The result is a painting that captures not just form, but temperament, companionship, and the quiet dignity of rural sporting life.
Artist & Attribution
Attributed to the Circle of John Sargent Noble (British, 1831–1909)
John Sargeant Noble was a leading Victorian equine painter, celebrated for his sensitive portrayals of horses, hounds, and sporting life. His works frequently depict stables as emotionally resonant spaces, where the personality of the animals takes precedence over rigid academic polish. Initially catalogued within the circle of Edwin Frederick Holt, this painting was reattributed in 2025 through comparative stylistic review, particularly referencing Noble’s terrier handling, contour shading, interior palette, and expressive stable compositions from the 1880s.
Signature
No visible signature. Attribution based on detailed stylistic and technical comparison with known works.
Frame
Presented in an ornate Victorian gilt frame featuring acanthus scrolling and classical moulding. The frame retains strong visual presence appropriate to the period but shows typical age-related wear, including areas of rubbed gilt, cracking, surface scuffing, some losses, and signs of use over time. The frame has also been overpainted but remains structurally sound and visually enhancing in display.
Dimensions (Framed): 67 cm (H) × 81 cm (W) × 7 cm (D)
Provenance
Private equine collection
Notable Yorkshire auction house
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
Canvas stamp (verso): Brodie & Middleton, 79 Long Acre, London
Professionally restored and conserved in 2025 by a fine art conservator
Exhibited: The Sporting Tradition: British Equestrian and Animal Painting 1850–1900,
Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire, England, October 2–9, 2025
Why You’ll Love It
A classic Victorian stable scene rich in authenticity and atmosphere
Rare and highly desirable strawberry roan horse subject
Expressive terrier adds narrative charm and emotional warmth
Strong stylistic association with equine painter John Sargent Noble
Warm palette and characterful brushwork suit refined country or sporting interiors
Supported by provenance, exhibition inclusion, and expert conservation
A compelling acquisition for collectors of British sporting and animal portraiture
Condition Report (2025)
Restoration Treatment Summary:
Consolidation with Lascaux adhesive; surface cleaned with 5% Tri-Ammonium Citrate; varnish removed using Acetone / Stoddard Solvent; losses filled with Mowiol G4-88 and whiting; retouched (including minor overpainting) with pigments in Paraloid B72; final MS2A varnish applied; canvas re-tensioned and keys tied.
Current State: Good structural and visual condition; restored to museum presentation standard.
Shipping
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