English Victorian Sporting Oil Painting of an Arabian Horse in the Bombay Stables, India, c.1900

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Description

English Victorian sporting oil painting of an Arabian horse in the Bombay Stables, India, c.1900
An elegant English Victorian sporting … Read more English Victorian sporting oil painting of an Arabian horse in the Bombay Stables, India, c.1900
An elegant English Victorian sporting oil painting depicting a magnificent Purebred Red Chestnut Arabian horse standing within the renowned Bombay Stables, India (modern-day Mumbai). Painted circa 1900, this finely executed equestrian portrait is completed in the manner of celebrated Victorian sporting artist Charles Bilger Spalding (1810–1871).
The Arabian horse is shown in full side profile beneath a pale green canvas awning, erected to shield the animal from the intense Indian sun. Beyond the stable yard, the tranquil waters of Bombay Harbour provide an atmospheric backdrop, where a sailing yacht can be seen crossing the estuary, adding further depth and historical charm to the composition.

Executed in oil on board, the painting demonstrates a confident understanding of equine anatomy, with beautifully modelled musculature, elegant proportions and rich chestnut colouring. The harmonious palette of warm earth tones, soft greens and distant coastal blues creates a balanced composition that reflects the refined traditions of late Victorian sporting art.

During the nineteenth century, Arabian horses were among the most highly prized bloodlines throughout the British Empire. Bombay was an important commercial, military and sporting centre where wealthy merchants, cavalry officers and racing enthusiasts maintained valuable Arabian horses for breeding, racing and ceremonial display. Paintings such as this celebrated these exceptional animals in much the same way formal portraits commemorated distinguished families.

This work is attributed to an English School artist working around 1900 and painted in the manner of Charles Bilger Spalding, one of Britain's respected Victorian sporting painters. Spalding exhibited at the Royal Academy and became well known for his accomplished horse portraits, hunting scenes and racing subjects, which continue to attract collectors internationally.

The painting is presented in its traditional gilt frame and is ready to hang.

Provenance
Original historical labels remain attached to the reverse.
• Holloway's Auctioneers, Banbury, Oxfordshire, Lot 97, June 2024.

• Original typed collection label reading:

"Chestnut Arab in the Bombay Stables
Bought from the Anneji
And sold for £980."

• Southern Shire Fine Art Auction label.

• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Measurements
Height: 13.6 in (34.5 cm)
Width: 16.5 in (42 cm)

Depth: 1.8 in (4.5 cm)

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