This charming late 19th-century oil painting by British artist Edward Corbet (1823-1899) depicts ‘Black Jack’, a dark bay hunter in a stable. Corbet was predominantly known for his sporting scenes and portraits of animals.

Born in the idyllic Hampshire village of Selbourne, Corbet was raised on a farm and developed an advanced understanding of livestock from an early age. Vincent Corbet, Edward’s father, was well-versed in equestrian matters and a horse breeder of repute. During the 1830s, a newspaper report refers to his sale of “32 brood mares, colts, hunters, hackneys, and draught horses”. At the time, together with his family, he was residing at Scotsgrove House in Thame, which dates to the 15th century.

From here, the family removed to the substantial estate of Nethercote Manor in Lewknor, where Vincent kept racehorses for Richard Paul Jodrell (1781-1861). As such the young Edward was surrounded by paddocks, giving him plenty of opportunity to sketch from life in the open air.

Like many of his provincial peers, Edward Corbet was kept busy by the requirements of the aristocracy with little requirement to exhibit his works. Patrons included William Blenkiron, the owner of the Middle Park Stud in Kent, who commissioned him to paint the stallions ‘Saunterer’ and ‘Marsyas’. Along with Thomas Harvey Dutton Bayly of Edwinstowe House, Nottinghamshire, Master of the Rufford Hounds.

Here, in this piece from 1880, he’s depicted Dutton Bayly’s dark bay hunter, ‘Black Jack’, in a stable. The commission was probably a direct result of it winning a blue riband that year at the ‘Alexandra Park Horse Show’, of which Edward was a co-founder. A newspaper report referred to Black Jack’ as “a wonderfully-shaped horse, standing 16 hands”.

Aside from his works in oil, over the years, Edward developed a solid reputation as a prominent illustrator for the sporting press working for several publications including ​​The Farmer’s Magazine, The Sporting Review, and The Sporting Magazine. His brother, Henry, was a respected agricultural writer and the editor of ‘The Mark Lane Express Agricultural Journal’, which undoubtedly created various opportunities. Examples of his work are held at the British Museum.

Signed, dated and inscribed in the lower left and held within a gilt frame.

Learn more about Edward Corbet in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 29” x 21” / 73cm x 53cm
Year of creation: 1880
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed in the lower left. Bears a Christie’s stencil on the reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Cleaned. Fine and settled craquelure, as you would expect. The paint layer is stable. Frame with light marks.
Artist’s auction maximum: £2,000 for ‘A Grey Charger with a Scarlet and Leopardskin Regimental Shabraque Embroidered VR’, Oil on canvas, Christie’s, The Raglan Collection and The Marquesses of Londonderry, London, 2014 (lot 130).
Our reference: BRV1881