19th Century Hunting Painting “Hare Seeds Gentlemen! Hare Seeds With the Quorn Hunt” Tom Firr Huntsman on Horse Grey Whitelegs by Basil Nightingale

Details

Description

Large British Sporting Masterpiece Painting
“Hare Seeds Gentlemen! Hare Seeds — With The Quorn Hunt”
Believed to Depict Tom Firr … Read more Large British Sporting Masterpiece Painting
“Hare Seeds Gentlemen! Hare Seeds — With The Quorn Hunt”
Believed to Depict Tom Firr on Whitelegs
By Basil Nightingale, Signed and Dated 1895
An exceptional large-scale Victorian sporting painting capturing the authority, precision, and pageantry of England’s most prestigious fox hunt at its late 19th-century height. This museum-quality British equestrian artwork combines narrative, history, and decorative power — ideal for collectors of antique sporting art, English country house interiors, and equestrian wall decor.
Subject & Medium
Watercolour, gouache, and bodycolour heightened with white on paper
Inscribed upper right:
“Hare Seeds Gentleman! Hare seeds!”
(With the Quorn — a sketch from memory)
This finely executed 19th-century sporting painting depicts the mounted professional huntsman of the Quorn Hunt sounding his horn while seated upon a powerful grey hunter. The inscription references a traditional hunting cry indicating that the hounds have momentarily taken up the scent of a hare rather than a fox — a subtle but significant interruption within the disciplined order of a dedicated fox hunt.
Executed in luminous watercolour enriched with opaque gouache and heightened white, the surface demonstrates both tonal depth and sculptural modeling rarely achieved in antique sporting works on paper.
Composition & Technique
The composition is architecturally balanced, with the rider occupying the exact visual center — a deliberate assertion of hierarchy consistent with the huntsman’s professional authority within the field.
The grey hunter advances in collected motion with anatomically credible weight distribution. Nightingale demonstrates deep knowledge of equine structure, including:
Powerful shoulder articulation
Substantial depth through the girth
Well-defined hocks and clean cannons
Controlled flexion at the poll
The restrained ochre ground serves as a tonal stage, allowing the vibrant scarlet hunt coat to command immediate attention. Heightened white bodycolour along the horse’s musculature and breeches creates dimensional relief suggestive of open Leicestershire pasture light.
Brushwork alternates between precise linear detailing in the bridle and tack and broader confident strokes within the ground plane, reinforcing movement without sacrificing clarity.
At nearly one meter wide when framed, this large equestrian painting has commanding wall presence suited for a library, study, ranch estate, equestrian property, or traditional sporting interior.
About the Rider & Horse
The central figure is strongly believed to represent Tom (Thomas) Firr (1847–1910), professional huntsman to the Quorn and one of the most celebrated hunting figures of the Victorian era.
Firr was renowned for:
Exceptional command of hounds
Technical horsemanship across challenging pasture country
Calm and disciplined field authority
The grey hunter closely aligns with Firr’s famed horse Whitelegs, frequently associated with him in other documented works. Grey hunters were favored in Leicestershire for visibility across hedge-divided pasture and heavy timber country.
The raised horn and commanding posture reflect the professional huntsman rather than a gentleman rider. While not explicitly named in the inscription, contextual and historical alignment strongly support this identification.
Historical Significance
The Quorn Hunt, founded in 1696 in Leicestershire, was widely regarded as the pinnacle of English fox hunting. By 1895 — the date of this painting — the hunt was under the Mastership of the 6th Duke of Rutland, a celebrated period in its history.
Leicestershire pasture country was the proving ground of aristocracy, cavalry officers, and elite sporting society. Hunting represented:
A demonstration of social hierarchy
A test of horsemanship and breeding
A ritualized expression of Victorian field discipline
The phrase “Hare Seeds Gentlemen!” captures a fleeting yet authentic hunting incident — hounds diverting to hare scent. The note “a sketch from memory” suggests direct observation, elevating the work beyond decorative sporting imagery into documented field narrative.
Named hunts combined with identifiable huntsmen and a firmly dated 1895 execution place this painting in a particularly desirable category of British sporting art.
About the Artist
Basil Nightingale was a British painter and illustrator active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, specializing in equestrian, military, and sporting subjects.
His career included:
Contributions to The Graphic
Contributions to The Illustrated London News
Exhibition at London institutions including the Royal Academy
Nightingale’s equestrian works are noted for anatomical precision, controlled composition, and accurate representation of sporting hierarchy. His paintings remain highly sought after by collectors of British hunting art and antique horse paintings.
Signed
Signed and dated lower right:
Basil Nightingale, 1895
The clear signature and firm date anchor the painting securely within Tom Firr’s active tenure at the Quorn Hunt.
Framed
Recently professionally reframed in a Larson Juhl gilt moulding with ivory white mount and refined gold slip.
Fitted with Artglass AR70 anti-reflective museum glazing providing 70% UV protection.
The museum-grade presentation enhances clarity, reduces reflection, and protects the work for long-term display — ideal for high-end residential or gallery settings.
Size
Sheet: approximately 47 cm x 66 cm
Framed: 99 cm x 80.5 cm x 4.5 cm
The near-meter width provides significant decorative impact and makes this a substantial large sporting wall statement.
Provenance
Private Collection, United Kingdom
Mellors & Kirk, Nottingham – Fine Art, Antiques & Collectors Sale, December 2025
Prometheus Antiques, UK
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
Private Exhibition, Famous Lord Hill Museum
Exhibition history and structured provenance enhance collector confidence and market credibility.
Market Context
Quorn Hunt paintings retain enduring appeal among collectors of British fox hunting art in the United States and internationally.
Particularly desirable attributes present here:
Named hunt of the highest prestige
Believed depiction of documented huntsman Tom Firr
Firmly dated 1895 within peak tenure
Narrative inscription
Large decorative scale
Museum-grade conservation framing
This combination is increasingly rare in today’s market.
Why You’ll Love It
Iconic association with England’s most prestigious fox hunt
Believed portrayal of legendary huntsman Tom Firr
Authentic narrative inscription capturing a real hunting moment
Signed and dated 1895
Exceptional equine anatomical rendering
Museum-standard AR70 glazing and professional reframing
Large near-meter width for dramatic display
Strong appeal for U.S. sporting, equestrian, and country estate collectors


Shipping
Worldwide shipping available.
Professionally packaged, double boxed, and fully insured for secure delivery.
White-glove delivery options available upon request for U.S. buyers. See less