작품 상세

'STUDIES OF SILVO' a pair (on verso) LANDSCAPES OF 'SNAILWELL' In The Bloodstock Breeders' Review of 1925, the Wednesday session of the Newmarket October Sale was highlighted: "It was, however, the nine-year-old gelding Silvo that caused the greatest stir. Here we have a horse in his prime as a jumper, who won the Grand Steeplechase de Paris last June, who has won thirteen steeplechases in England (including the Grand Sefton and Champion at Aintree), who was placed third in last year's Grand National and fifth in this year's, and is looked upon as a probable winner of that great prize sooner or later. He was offered for sale to dissolve the partnership between Mr. W. H. Midwood and Sir E. Edgar. Mr. Midwood had made up his mind to become sole owner of the horse. Unfortunately for him, Mr. Stephen Sanford was similarly minded. Mr. Midwood finally prevailed, but not until he had made a bid of 10,500 guineas. This is a colossal sum to pay for a 'chaser - easily a world's record." "Silvo was a big powerful horse, disfigured by a hog mane." Munnings, Sir Alfred James. Autobiography: An Artist's Life; Second Burst; The Finish. London, Museum Press Limited. 1950-1951, v.2 p.249. Munnings painted these two scenes near Newmarket, in the village of Snailwell, which like many other villages in that area is heavily involved in the breeding and training of horses. "At the time George Blackwell was farming between four and five hundred acres in the ancient parish of Snailwell...A traditionally English scene, if ever there was one - this farm with buildings, yards, meadows, aged elms and adjoining pastures at Snailwell. Blackwell, trainer and true farmer was fond of this property, and often took me there in his car. There are moments when the artist's soul is lifted up with sheer joy at something seen. How well I remember my exclamation at seeing an old, clunch-built wall adjoining the stack-yard, where great elms were growing, such as no artist's imagination could ever invent. Just over the wall stood a brown-tiled dovecot. Beyond that, right in the centre of the picture, was the round Saxon tower of Snailwell church." Munnings, Sir Alfred James. Autobiography: An Artist's Life; Second Burst; The Finish. London, Museum Press Limited. 1950-1951, v.2 p.257.