A Gentleman with his Greyhounds and his Son on a Pony inspecting a pair of chestnut Hunters in an extensive Landscape
A Gentleman with his Greyhounds and his Son on a Pony inspecting a pair of chestnut Hunters in an extensive Landscape
JOHN FERNELEY
1815 – 1862
English School
A Gentleman with his Greyhounds and his Son on a Pony inspecting a pair of chestnut Hunters in an extensive Landscape
Oil on canvas, signed
69.3 x 94 cms
271/4 x 37 inches
Overall framed size 82.4 x 107 cms
323/8 x 421/8 ins
Born in about 1815 at Melton Mowbray, he was the eldest son of the important sporting artist John E Ferneley. The latter's other two children, Claude Lorraine and Sarah, were also artists.
He spent his early life at Elgin Lodge and his father was a major influence on his artistic development and was in all probability his sole teacher. His father took him on trips to London and in 1832 to Durham and York where the younger Ferneley later settled in about 1839, probably because of the large number of patrons in the area. His first work, of a Whipping-in, was engraved and published in the New Sporting Magazine in May 1833 and was followed in the next year by an engraving of a Hunter.
John E Ferneley had established a significant career as an equestrian artist in the old English tradition largely due to being a pupil of Ben Marshall. His son imitated him at first very closely and at times was almost the equal of the master but the bulk of his oeuvre shows a more marked nineteenth century prettier style. Sally Mitchell says of him in The Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists: "….Ferneley was still considerably better than many of his contemporaries". He produced equestrian hunting and military groups and single portraits, many on a large scale, (Christies sold a view of Hyde Park in 1989 for £49,500 which measured 30 x 60 inches) and his decision to live in Yorkshire would appear to be based on the number of commissions from the officers of the Cavalry stationed there. Some of his paintings have York added after his signature.
Some other examples of subjects painted by John Ferneley include: "Two Racehorses called Robin and Langar", "Hunt Scurry", "The Pointer Playmate", "Rossendale Hunt", "Lord Gerard, Colonel of the Lancashire Hussars, receiving his Regiment", "Troop of the 2nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry", "10th Royal Hussars on Manoeuvres below a Castle" and "Colonel Williams, 3rd Hussars".
Examples of his work can be seen in: York Army Museum, Tate Britain, Leicester Museum, National Trust at Clandon Park, National Trust at Nunnington Hall, The Whitaker and 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards Heritage Trust.
He died in Manchester without marrying and few records of his life have survived.
Bibliography:
Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists - Sally Mitchell
Dictionary of Victorian Painters - Christopher Wood
A Book of Sporting Painters - Shaw-Sparrow
British Sporting Artists - Shaw-Sparrow
Conversation Pieces - Sacheverell Sitwell
A Dictionary of British Animal Painters - Lt. Colonel J C Wood
Yorkshire Artists - Harry Turnbull
Dimensions:
1815 - 1862
Oil on canvas
England
signed
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://johnbennettfinepaintings.com/sporting-animals/a-gentleman-with-his-greyhounds-and-his-son-on-a-pony-inspecting-a-pair-of-chestnut-hunters-in-an-extensive-landscape&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/johnbennett-r24Guyefdsuy3/stock/6217d9eab2c54_523_364393.jpg&description=JOHN FERNELEY 1815 – 1862English School A Gentleman with his Greyhounds and his Son on a Pony inspecting a pair of chestnut Hunters in an extensive Landscape Oil on canvas, signed 69.3 x 94 cms271/4 x 37 inchesOverall framed size 82.4 x 107 cms 323/8 x 421/8 insBorn in about 1815 at Melton Mowbray, he was the eldest son of the important sporting artist John E Ferneley. The latter's other two children, Claude Lorraine and Sarah, were also artists.He spent his early life at Elgin Lodge and his father was a major influence on his artistic development and was in all probability his sole teacher. His father took him on trips to London and in 1832 to Durham and York where the younger Ferneley later settled in about 1839, probably because of the large number of patrons in the area. His first work, of a Whipping-in, was engraved and published in the New Sporting Magazine in May 1833 and was followed in the next year by an engraving of a Hunter.John E Ferneley had established a significant career as an equestrian artist in the old English tradition largely due to being a pupil of Ben Marshall. His son imitated him at first very closely and at times was almost the equal of the master but the bulk of his oeuvre shows a more marked nineteenth century prettier style. Sally Mitchell says of him in The Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists: "….Ferneley was still considerably better than many of his contemporaries". He produced equestrian hunting and military groups and single portraits, many on a large scale, (Christies sold a view of Hyde Park in 1989 for £49,500 which measured 30 x 60 inches) and his decision to live in Yorkshire would appear to be based on the number of commissions from the officers of the Cavalry stationed there. Some of his paintings have York added after his signature.Some other examples of subjects painted by John Ferneley include: "Two Racehorses called Robin and Langar", "Hunt Scurry", "The Pointer Playmate", "Rossendale Hunt", "Lord Gerard, Colonel of the Lancashire Hussars, receiving his Regiment", "Troop of the 2nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry", "10th Royal Hussars on Manoeuvres below a Castle" and "Colonel Williams, 3rd Hussars". Examples of his work can be seen in: York Army Museum, Tate Britain, Leicester Museum, National Trust at Clandon Park, National Trust at Nunnington Hall, The Whitaker and 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards Heritage Trust.He died in Manchester without marrying and few records of his life have survived.Bibliography:Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists - Sally MitchellDictionary of Victorian Painters - Christopher WoodA Book of Sporting Painters - Shaw-SparrowBritish Sporting Artists - Shaw-Sparrow Conversation Pieces - Sacheverell SitwellA Dictionary of British Animal Painters - Lt. Colonel J C WoodYorkshire Artists - Harry Turnbull){kind=link}