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Hereford Ox,

R. Whitford (Artist)

This is a formal animal portrait, showing a 'Hereford Ox'. It was painted by R. Whitford, animal painter to the Queen, in 1865. An inscription on the stretcher reads: 'Aaron Pike Esq. Class 6. 1st prize of £20. Age 2 years 5 months. Islington Hall 1864. Bred by Mr Percy Hall, Malvern, Wells, Worcestershire', and on the painting itself:'1st prize £20 Islington Hall 1864. R. Whitford 1865. Animal painted to The Queen.' It is one of a collection of paintings and prints thought to date from the last quarter of the 18th century to c.1860.

1 painting: frame with glass<p>Inscription on stretcher reads: Aaron Pike Esq. Class 6. 1st prize of £20. Age 2 years 5 months. Islington Hall 1864. Bred by Mr. Percy.</p> <p> Inscription on painting reads: 1st prize £20 Islington Hall 1864. R. Whitford 1865. Animal painter to the Queen.</p>

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'OIL-PAINTING // Description // HEREFORD OX // Painted by R. Whitford 1865 Oil on canvas // Inscription: on stretcher. Aaron Pike Esq. Class 6. 1st prize of £20. Age 2 years 5 months. Islington Hall 1864. Bred by Mr Percy Hall, Malvern, Wells, Worcestershire // on painting, 1st prize £20 Islington Hall 1864. R. Whitford 1865. Animal painted to The Queen. // Dimensions // Framed // 24 in x 20 in // Associated information // P.D. Carter's No 703', 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.’

1865 - 1865

Fibre, Wood, Glass

Whitford, R. (Artist)