Large Victorian British Sporting Oil Painting of Derby Winner Melton With Champion Jockey Fred Archer by F. S. Evans, Dated 1885

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Description

Large Victorian British Sporting Oil Painting of Derby Winner Melton with Champion Jockey Fred Archer by F. S. Evans, Dated … Read more Large Victorian British Sporting Oil Painting of Derby Winner Melton with Champion Jockey Fred Archer by F. S. Evans, Dated 1885

Overview
An important Victorian sporting portrait celebrating one of the greatest partnerships in British racing history. Painted in 1885 by the British sporting artist F. S. Evans, this distinguished oil on canvas depicts the celebrated Derby and St. Leger winner Melton with Champion Jockey Fred Archer at the height of their remarkable racing careers.
Combining documented provenance, public auction history, institutional comparison and exceptional decorative appeal, this outstanding equestrian painting represents a fine example of nineteenth-century British sporting art. Executed during the very year of Melton's greatest victories, it is both an accomplished work of art and a contemporary historical record of one of the most celebrated horse-and-rider partnerships of the Victorian era.

Subject & Medium
An exceptional and historically important Victorian oil painting on canvas, painted in 1885 by the accomplished British sporting artist F. S. Evans, depicting the celebrated Derby and St. Leger winner Melton with the legendary Champion Jockey Fred Archer mounted. This remarkable equestrian portrait commemorates one of the defining moments in nineteenth-century British horse racing and captures the prestige, elegance and sporting tradition of the Victorian Turf at its zenith.
Executed during the very year of Melton's greatest triumphs, the painting is a superb example of late Victorian sporting art and demonstrates Evans's accomplished understanding of equine anatomy, portraiture and atmospheric landscape. It sits firmly within the grand British sporting tradition established by George Stubbs, Benjamin Marshall, John Frederick Herring Sr., Harry Hall and John Ferneley, whose celebrated racehorse portraits remain among the finest examples of the genre.

Composition & Technique
Evans portrays Melton standing proudly in full side profile before the sweeping Norfolk landscape surrounding Lord Hastings' Melton Constable Estate. The horse's gleaming bay coat is beautifully modelled with subtle tonal variations, carefully capturing the play of light across powerful musculature, defined tendons and elegant proportions.
Every detail has been observed with remarkable precision, from the finely painted eyelashes and expressive eye to the polished leather tack and burnished saddle. Fred Archer sits confidently in the saddle wearing his distinctive racing colours, his composed posture reflecting the supreme confidence that made him Britain's dominant jockey throughout the Victorian era.
Beyond the figures, Evans opens the landscape beneath an expansive cloud-filled sky, balancing the intimacy of the portrait with the grandeur of the English countryside. His restrained palette, refined brushwork and careful observation create a harmonious composition characteristic of the finest Victorian sporting paintings. The composition recalls the celebrated racehorse portraits of Harry Hall and John Frederick Herring Sr., placing the work firmly within Britain's distinguished tradition of aristocratic sporting portraiture.

Signed
Signed and dated "F. S. Evans / 1885" in the lower right corner, confirming the painting as an original period work executed during the very year of Melton's celebrated Derby and St. Leger victories.
The signature corresponds with the inscription recorded on the comparable portrait of Melton held in the National Trust Collection at Seaton Delaval Hall, where the work is catalogued as signed "F. S. EVANS / 1885." This provides valuable documentary support for both the attribution and dating of the present painting while further reinforcing its historical importance.
Painted in the same year as Melton's greatest triumphs, this signed work should therefore be regarded not only as an accomplished Victorian sporting portrait but also as a contemporary historical record celebrating one of the most famous horse-and-rider partnerships in British racing history.

About the Artist
Although relatively little documentary information survives concerning F. S. Evans, his known works demonstrate an accomplished sporting artist working during the golden age of British equestrian painting. Evans specialised in portraits of celebrated racehorses, displaying an exceptional understanding of equine anatomy, proportion and movement.
Working during the final decades of the nineteenth century, Evans belonged to the distinguished British sporting tradition established by George Stubbs, Benjamin Marshall, John Frederick Herring Sr., Harry Hall and John Ferneley. His paintings reflect the same careful observation of Thoroughbred conformation, balanced compositions and restrained palette that characterised the finest sporting portraiture of the Victorian period.
Comparable works by Evans are preserved in institutional collections, including the National Trust Collection at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland, where a closely related portrait of Melton remains an important record of one of Britain's greatest Classic winners. Evans's surviving works are increasingly appreciated not only for their artistic merit but also for their value as historical documents recording the horses, jockeys and patrons who shaped the golden age of British racing.

About Fred Archer
Few names command greater respect in British racing history than Frederick James Archer (1857–1886).
Universally known as "The Tin Man," Archer dominated the Victorian Turf for more than a decade, becoming Champion Jockey at only seventeen years of age and retaining the title for an extraordinary thirteen consecutive seasons between 1874 and 1886.
During an exceptional career he rode more than 2,700 winners, securing twenty-one British Classic victories, including five Derby winners, six St. Leger winners, four 2,000 Guineas and four Oaks. His remarkable judgement of pace, tactical intelligence and supreme horsemanship transformed professional race riding into a modern discipline.
Owners and trainers frequently insisted upon Archer's services, believing that his presence alone improved a horse's chances in the nation's greatest races. His partnership with Melton represents one of the defining moments of Victorian racing history.
Despite unparalleled success, Archer's career ended tragically with his death in November 1886 at just twenty-nine years of age. His achievements, however, ensured his lasting reputation as one of the greatest jockeys ever to ride in Britain.

About Melton
Foaled in 1882, Melton was bred by George Manners Astley, 20th Baron Hastings, from the distinguished bloodlines of Master Kildare and Violet Melrose.
Under the expert training of Mathew Dawson at Heath House Stables, Newmarket, Melton developed into one of the outstanding Thoroughbreds of the Victorian era. During his racing career he won eleven of his eighteen starts, including many of Britain's most prestigious races.
Among his greatest victories were:
The Derby Stakes, Epsom (1885)
The St. Leger Stakes (1885)
The July Cup
The New Stakes, Royal Ascot
The Middle Park Plate
His unforgettable Derby victory remains one of the closest finishes in the race's long history. Ridden by Fred Archer, Melton defeated Paradox after a thrilling struggle up the Epsom straight, securing his place amongst Britain's greatest Classic winners.
Following retirement Melton became one of the Victorian period's most influential stallions, standing in both England and Italy before establishing an important international bloodline that extended well into the twentieth century.

Historical Context
This painting commemorates one of the defining moments of nineteenth-century British sporting history.
Painted during 1885, the very year of Melton's Derby and St. Leger victories, it records the partnership between one of Britain's greatest Thoroughbreds and the most celebrated jockey of the Victorian era.
Throughout the nineteenth century, important racehorse portraits were commissioned by aristocratic owners to commemorate Classic victories and preserve the legacy of exceptional horses. Such paintings were displayed prominently within country houses as symbols of prestige, sporting success and family patronage.
The present work therefore represents far more than an attractive equestrian painting. It is a contemporary historical record documenting one of the greatest partnerships ever seen on the British Turf while preserving the image of a Derby winner whose reputation has endured for more than a century.
Its careful observation of equine anatomy, elegant side-profile composition and expansive English landscape firmly place the painting within the finest tradition of Victorian sporting art.
Frame
Presented in its impressive original late Victorian gilt moulded frame, retaining its period character and decorative elegance. Richly ornamented with classical mouldings and finished beneath its original protective glass, the frame perfectly complements the grandeur of the sporting subject while enhancing the painting's visual impact.
The warm gilt tones harmonise beautifully with Melton's lustrous bay coat and the subtle colours of the Norfolk landscape, creating a refined presentation typical of important nineteenth-century sporting portraits commissioned for aristocratic country houses.
Far more than simply a surround, the frame forms an integral part of the artwork's history, preserving its authentic Victorian appearance and adding to its considerable decorative appeal.

Dimensions
Height: 81 cm
Width: 99 cm
Depth: 2.5 cm

Provenance
From the distinguished estate of Stafford Ellerman (1928–2022), the painting remained within the Ellerman family before entering the public market.
Offered as Lot 1178 in Ewbank's Silver & Fine Art Auction, Surrey, on 21 March 2024, where it was catalogued as "F. S. Evans (British, 19th Century), Melton: A Bay Racehorse with Fred Archer (1857–1886) Up." The catalogue identified the work as signed and dated 1885 and recorded its provenance as having descended from the estate of the late Stafford Ellerman.
A closely related portrait of Melton by F. S. Evans is preserved within the National Trust Collection at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland, providing an important institutional comparison and further supporting the historical significance of Evans's sporting paintings.
The reverse of the original canvas bears the trade stamp of Percy Young, 137 Gower Street, London, the respected publisher, importer and manufacturer of artists' materials whose business became renowned as the Depot for Supplying the Slade School of Art with English and Foreign Artists' Materials. Percy Young's supplier stamps are recognised on many quality late Victorian and Edwardian paintings and provide an additional level of documentary interest for collectors.
Following its appearance at Ewbank's, the painting was acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD, where it has been professionally researched, catalogued and curated for the international fine art market.

Literature & Comparable Examples
A comparable portrait of Melton by F. S. Evans is held in the National Trust Collection at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland, demonstrating the artist's recognised contribution to Victorian sporting art and providing an important institutional comparison.
The present painting belongs to the distinguished British sporting tradition established by George Stubbs, Benjamin Marshall, John Frederick Herring Sr., Harry Hall and John Ferneley, artists whose celebrated portraits of racehorses remain among the most sought-after examples of British sporting painting.
Portraits celebrating Derby winners were among the most prestigious commissions of the nineteenth century, often displayed within country houses to commemorate important sporting achievements and preserve the legacy of exceptional Thoroughbreds. Works depicting identifiable horses and jockeys with documented provenance remain particularly desirable amongst collectors of British sporting art, equestrian paintings and racing memorabilia.

Collector's Highlights
• Original Victorian oil on canvas dated 1885
• Depicts the celebrated Derby and St. Leger winner Melton
• Features Britain's legendary Champion Jockey Fred Archer
• Signed and dated by F. S. Evans
• Original late Victorian gilt frame
• Comparable painting held within the National Trust Collection
• Original Percy Young, London supplier's stamp to the reverse
• Documented public auction history through Ewbank's Auctioneers
• Distinguished provenance from the estate of Stafford Ellerman
• An exceptional example of nineteenth-century British sporting and equestrian art See less