18th century paintings

Thomas Beach RA (1738-1806)

A chestnut hunter at the entrance to stables with a wooded landscape beyond, 1785

Oil on canvas

122.7 x 150cm

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Further images

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Provenance

Christie's London, 28 May 1999. lot 15

Literature

E.S. Beach, Thomas Beach, a Dorset portrait painter, favourite pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1934.

A saddled chestnut hunter tethered to a post at the entrance to stables with a wooded landscape and a hill beyond. Signed and dated lower left, 'T. Beach pt., 1785'.

Thomas Beach was essentially known as a portrait artist and the present painting is a rare example of his skill as an animal painter. His ability to convey a sense of the character of his sitters is evident here in the remarkably sensitive portrayal of the horse's expression.
Beach painted the UK's main horse auctioneer and founder of 'Tattersalls' Richard Tattersall (1724-1795) on two occasions, including one with his famous horse 'Highflyer' in the background. The horse in this particular painting could possibly have been another prize horse belonging to Tattersall or one of his close associates or patrons such as the Duke of Kingston.

Thomas Beach RA (Milton Abbas, Dorset 1738-1806 Dorchester) was a British portrait artist who studied under Joshua Reynolds. Whilst at school in Abbey Milton (now known as Milton Abbas), Beach's talent came to the attention of Lord Milton, a governor of the school, who sent him to London in 1760 to be a pupil of Joshua Reynolds and he became a student at the Academy of Painting in St Martin's Lane.

From London, he moved to Bath where he established a very successful and busy portrait practice, living and working at no.2 Westgate street. From here in 1772, he sent three portraits to the Exhibition of the Incorporated Society of Artists.

By 1785 he was back in London, living in St James' Square and he exhibited at the Royal Academy in London every year from then until 1790 and again in 1797 with a portrait of the Prince of Wales (later George IV) when he had moved to Strand on the Green near Kew. Some of Beach's well-known sitters included members of the Helyar family of Coker Court, Dorset (1760's), members of the Penruddocke family of Compton Park, Wiltshire, Elizabeth, Lady Craven with a harp (1776), Richard Tattersall, horse auctioneer and founder of 'Tattersalls' (1787), William Woodfall, the dramatic critic and parliamentary reporter (1782, now in the NPG London), and around twelve known portraits of the famous actress Mrs Siddons with whom he remained friends for the rest of his life.

Beach's last recorded work was a self-portrait painted in 1802 and with his health ailing, he retired to Dorset where he died in 1806 aged 68.

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18th century paintings

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Old master, British and European paintings and sculpture from the 16th To 19th century

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