Raoul Millais Hunting Painting, English Fox Hunt Scene, Grey Horse Scarlet Huntsman With Hounds, Sussex Sporting Art

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Raoul Millais Hunting Painting, English Fox Hunt Scene, Grey Horse Huntsman with Hounds, Sussex Sporting Art
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Subject & Medium
… Read more Raoul Millais Hunting Painting, English Fox Hunt Scene, Grey Horse Huntsman with Hounds, Sussex Sporting Art
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Subject & Medium
Oil on panel depicting a traditional English fox hunting scene, featuring a mounted huntsman in a red coat riding a grey horse, leading a pack of foxhounds across rolling countryside.
This classic sporting subject represents the enduring imagery of British equestrian and hunting art, combining movement, tradition, and countryside atmosphere.
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Composition & Technique
The composition captures the “gone away” moment of the hunt, when the fox has broken cover and the hounds move forward under the huntsman’s direction.
Millais uses confident, expressive brushwork:
Atmospheric sky painted with loose, fluid strokes
Strong equine structure demonstrating anatomical accuracy
Hounds rendered as a cohesive working pack rather than decorative elements
The palette is balanced and traditional:
Scarlet hunting coat as the focal point
Earth greens and ochres grounding the landscape
Cool greys harmonising horse and sky
This reflects Millais’ position within the tradition of British sporting art, favouring realism and lived experience over modernist abstraction .
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About the Artist
Hesketh Raoul Lejarderay Millais (1901–1999) was a leading British equestrian and sporting artist, born in Horsham, Sussex. He was the grandson of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir John Everett Millais and inherited both artistic skill and a deep connection to the countryside .
Millais was not only a painter but an active participant in the hunting world, producing works based on direct field experience. His paintings have been sold through major auction houses including Christie’s and Bonhams and are widely collected for their technical assurance .
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About the Hunt
The landscape and handling of the subject closely evoke the hunting country of Sussex, particularly that associated with the Crawley & Horsham Hunt.
This historic hunt operates across a defined region of rolling countryside and is traditionally described as “hound country,” where success depends on the working cohesion of the pack across mixed woodland and pasture terrain .
The painting reflects these characteristics:
Tight grouping of hounds
Controlled forward movement
Undulating landscape typical of Sussex
Rather than depicting a specific meet, the work captures the broader tradition of English fox hunting.
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Historical Context
Fox hunting was central to British rural life from the 18th through the 20th century, representing land, tradition, and social identity.
By the late 20th century, when this painting was created, such scenes already carried a sense of heritage and nostalgia. Millais’ work preserves the visual culture of the hunt and reflects a long-standing artistic tradition closely associated with British country life.
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Signed
Signed by the artist in the lower corner, consistent with known examples of Raoul Millais’ work.
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Framed
Recently professionally reframed in a Larson-Juhl gilt moulded frame, a respected name in fine art framing, enhancing presentation and ready for display.
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Size
Height: 48 cm
Width: 56 cm
Depth: 4 cm
A versatile cabinet-size painting suitable for both residential and professional interiors.
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Provenance
Arthur Greatorex Ltd, Grafton Street, Mayfair, London
Private UK Collection
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
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Why You’ll Love It
✅ Classic English fox hunting painting with strong decorative appeal
✅ By a recognised British sporting artist with Pre-Raphaelite lineage
✅ Sussex hunting landscape influence
✅ Ideal subject for equestrian and country house interiors
✅ Balanced cabinet size suitable for multiple display settings
✅ Professionally framed and ready to hang
✅ Highly desirable for American collectors of sporting and equestrian art
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