Alfred Moginie Bryant was an English painter of animals, particularly equine subjects. Hailing from Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, he seems to have dodged the family trade as his father and brothers were all employed as drapers. Huntingdon was a busy market town and his father, Mr Charles Bryant ran a shop on the High Street.

At 16, he was living at his family home, along with several siblings, two servants and a groom. It’s interesting that the family kept horses as this probably inspired young Alfred to draw. You can imagine him heading to the stables or paddock to escape the hectic buzz of family life.

By 26, he’d moved to London to pursue a career as an artist. The census of 1881 lists his profession as such. It’s intriguing to consider how hard that would’ve been for him as unlike many budding artists, he didn’t seem to have anyone in the trade to call upon. But evidently, he began earning commissions as every census thereafter describes him as a professional painter/engraver.

A few examples of his work from this early period still exist and all of them are horse portraits. The earliest dates to 1882 and depicts ‘Fireking’, a bay racehorse.

From there on, it appears that he mainly continued with horse portraiture but also produced sentimental scenes involving other animals. These would’ve been popular with middle-class Victorian buyers.

His twilight years were spent in Eastbourne with his wife, Mary. 

1855

Born in Huntingdon to Charles Bryant, a draper, and Susan Bryant (nee Moginie).

1871

Living in Huntingdon with his family. 

1881

Living in Chelsea as a lodger.

1891

Living in Eastbourne as a lodger at a residence owned by Ann Luck, a widower.

1901

Living in Leamington as a lodger at a residence owned by Sarah May, a widower. 

1904

Married Mary.

1911

Living in Eastbourne with his wife Mary.

1935

Died in Hampstead.