Horse Country Chic: Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland in November

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland in November

Happen to need a few new paintings to adorn the walls of your French chateau? If so, there's an auction coming in November that you might want to check out. Some fabulous works of art will go on the block in Lexington, KY on November 20th. Here's a small sampling. I love that they also give a bit of history. If only art could talk.....

(Julius Caesar)

Reality, by Sir Archy out of Old Medley, was owned by William Johnson, who often claimed that the mare was the equal to her great sire Sir Archy on the Turf. Indeed, Reality was one of the greatest turf mares of the 19th century. Reality also was successful as a broodmare, producing Johnson’s Medley, Slender, and Bonnets o’ Blue.

There are several known paintings of Reality in a similar landscape, but they are all dated 1835. The painting below is signed “E. Troye July 1833,” and Troye would go on to paint Reality at least twice more, according to Alexander Mackay-Smith. Based upon the date of July 1833, the present painting was most likely painted for owner Johnson when Troye was completing a series of commissions all dating between June and August of that year.

(Reality in a Woodedlandscape )

Bee’s-wing was rated a favorite among racegoers, and they had plenty of chances to form their opinion. During an eight-year career Bee’s-wing won more than 50 races, including the Ascot Gold Cup, the Doncaster Cup four times, and the Newcastle Cup six times. For the first year off the track she was used as a park hack before being bred to Touchstone. Her unions with Touchstone produced the 2,000 Guineas winner Nunnykirk and two-time champion sire Newminster. Bee’s-wing is the taproot mare of such classic winners as Sassafras and Assert, as well as Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) winner Last Tycoon.