Large Mid 19th Century Oil Painting King George III Returning From Hunting Before Windsor Castle After James Pollard (1792–1867)

Details

Description

King George III Returning from Hunting Before Windsor Castle
Mid-19th Century Oil on Canvas After James Pollard (1792–1867)

Description

A … Read more King George III Returning from Hunting Before Windsor Castle
Mid-19th Century Oil on Canvas After James Pollard (1792–1867)

Description

A substantial and highly decorative mid-19th century oil on canvas depicting King George III returning from the hunt before Windsor Castle**, accompanied by members of the royal hunting party, mounted attendants, and a lively pack of hounds. Executed after a celebrated composition associated with the distinguished sporting artist James Pollard (1792–1867), the painting combines royal portraiture, equestrian art, architectural landscape, and sporting subject matter within a single panoramic composition.

The scene is dominated by an expansive view of Windsor Castle, with the Round Tower and St George's Chapel clearly visible beyond the town. In the foreground, King George III is shown mounted on horseback, acknowledging spectators as he returns from the hunt. Riders, attendants, and hunting hounds animate the composition, creating a vivid record of royal sporting life during the Georgian period.

Rich earth tones and atmospheric effects are balanced by a luminous sky, where shafts of sunlight illuminate the royal procession. The work reflects the enduring popularity of Pollard's sporting and coaching subjects throughout the Victorian era and captures the elegance and pageantry associated with Britain's royal hunting traditions.

About James Pollard (1792–1867)

James Pollard was among Britain's most celebrated sporting and coaching painters, renowned for his depictions of racehorses, hunting scenes, coaching subjects, and royal sporting events. His works remain highly sought after by collectors of British sporting art and are valued for their lively portrayal of nineteenth-century aristocratic and rural life. The present painting follows after one of Pollard's well-known royal hunting compositions and demonstrates the continued popularity of his imagery during the Victorian period.

Historical Context

King George III (1738–1820) maintained a close association with Windsor and the surrounding countryside. Known for his enthusiasm for agriculture, equestrian pursuits, and country life, the King regularly participated in hunting expeditions within Windsor Great Park. Paintings depicting these events became highly desirable among Britain's aristocracy and landed gentry, serving both as historical records and as expressions of status and refinement.

Combining royal history with one of Britain's most iconic architectural landmarks, this work appeals equally to collectors of **British sporting art, equestrian paintings, royal portraiture, Windsor Castle views, and English country house decoration**.

Signature

Signed "J. Pollard" lower left.

Frame

Presented in a substantial Victorian giltwood frame with original inner slip. The frame complements the scale and grandeur of the composition while enhancing its traditional country house character.

Dimensions

Canvas:
42 in. W × 30 in. H
(106.7 cm W × 76.2 cm H)

Framed:
51.8 in. W × 40 in. H × 2.4 in. D
(131.5 cm W × 101.5 cm H × 6.1 cm D)

Provenance

Private Collection, United Kingdom.
Halls Fine Art Auctioneers . Note the Halls auction label is missing we have evidence of the listed lot catalogue entry .
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.
Privately loaned and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum.

A closely related pair depicting this composition and its companion subject, King George III Hunting in Windsor Forest, was sold by Bonhams, San Francisco, in May 2005 and catalogued as "Circle of James Pollard." Both of these other paintings measured approximately 42 x 30 inches (106.7 x 76.2 cm), closely corresponding to the dimensions of the present work.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution
The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

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