Object number
64/51
Title
Leicester Ram,
Collection
Creator
Description
This is a formal animal portrait of a 'Leicester Ram', painted and signed by R. Whitford in 1859. It shows the ram in a landscape setting. It is one of a collection of paintings and prints thought to date from the last quarter of the 18th century to c.1860.
Physical description
1 painting: frame with perspex
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>1. <B>Leicester ram painted by Richard Whitford, 1859</B><P>In the nineteenth century, competition amongst farmers to breed prize-winning stock was intense. Their houses would be adorned with portraits of the most successful animals, often painted by itinerant artists who specialised in this work. The ram pictured here of the Leicester breed was painted in 1859 by one such artist, Richard Whitford. He came from Worcestershire and received many commissions from farmers in the Cotswold area in a career that extended into the 1880s.<P>64/51</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>1. <B>Leicester ram painted by Richard Whitford, 1859</B><P>In the nineteenth century, competition amongst farmers to breed prize-winning stock was intense. Their houses would be adorned with portraits of the most successful animals, often painted by itinerant artists who specialised in this work. The ram pictured here of the Leicester breed was painted in 1859 by one such artist, Richard Whitford. He came from Worcestershire and received many commissions from farmers in the Cotswold area in a career that extended into the 1880s.<P>64/51</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'OIL-PAINTING // Description // LEICESTER RAM // Oil on canvas // Painted and signed by R. Whitford 1859 // Dimensions // Framed // 24 in x 18 in // Associated information // P.D. Carter's No. 704', MERL miscellaneous note [The Royal Smithfield Club] – ‘A letter was received from the Museum in which it was stated that they had been given an opportunity to purchase a collection of paintings and prints of Farm Livestock executed during the period from the last quarter of the 18th century to about 1860. These include animals which had won prizes at the Smithfield Shows of 1834 and 1851… At the request of the Council, Mr. W. J. Cumber and Mr. P. M. Colebrook inspected the paintings and prints, and they were unanimous in recommending that the Club should purchase the prints and present them to the Museum… The Museum have agreed that the collection shall be recorded as The Royal Smithfield Club Collection.’
Production date
1856 - 1859
Object name
Material
Associated subject
