Items Similar to 19th Century oil painting of a dray cart & shire horses in a brewery yard
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15
William Henry Davis19th Century oil painting of a dray cart & shire horses in a brewery yard1839
1839
About the Item
William Henry Davis
British, (1783-1865)
The Brewery Yard
Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1839
Image size: 27 inches x 35 inches
Size including frame: 33.25 inches x 41.25 inches
This painting by William Henry Davis features draymen preparing a team of dray horses in the courtyard of a brewery. Dray horses or draught horses were a large breed of horses adapted for drawing heavy loads. During the 19th century, there were 3 main breeds used in Britain: Shire, Clydesdale and Suffolk Punch. The Shire horse and Suffolk Punch were the predominant breeds in Britain and were more commonly used for transporting beer barrels, especially in London. There would usually be a team of two or three horses pulling a dray with a ‘drayman’ to drive and a ‘trouncer’ to help load and unload the kegs. Polished horse brasses also became popular during this period and the Breweries would have the harnesses of their horses decorated with brass motifs. The dray horses became a symbol of prestige and were an impressive sight that helped promote the brewery in a highly competitive market. The motif of an anchor can clearly be seen on the horse brasses worn by the 3 dray horses. This undoubtedly refers to the Anchor Brewery based at Park Street, Southwark in London. The Anchor Brewery was established in 1616 by James Monger and at one time was the largest brewery in the world. From 1781 it was owned by Barclay Perkins & Co and merged with Courage Brewery in 1955. Brewing continued at the Anchor site until the early 1970’s.
William Henry Davis was born in Chelsea in 1783 to Richard and Sarah Davis (née Barrett). His father was huntsman to King George III and his brother Charles Davis became Huntsman for Queen Victoria. His older brother Richard Barrett Davis (1782-1854) was also an animal artist. Davis undoubtedly received an artistic education, most likely alongside his brother and is known to have travelled to Rome to study.
In 1803, at around the age of 20 he made his debut at the Royal Academy, continuing to exhibit there throughout his life. Although some of his early works included portraits and figures, he quickly focussed on painting sporting animals such as horses and greyhounds. He began exhibiting at the British Institute in 1817 and by 1818 had attracted the patronage of the Earl of Ilchester. As his reputation for painting portraits of horses and dogs grew he also began receiving commissions to paint cattle and sheep. From 1828, he exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists. In 1837 he became Animal Painter to William IV and later Queen Victoria in 1839.
He lived for most of his life in Chelsea living at Church Lane but would travel around the country to work on commissions. As well as painting portraits of livestock for wealthy landowners, Davis was also commissioned by The Farmer magazine to produce a series of paintings which were reproduced as engravings.
He spent his final years living at 9 Upper Church Street, Chelsea. He died at his home on the 8 December, 1864 and was buried at Brompton Cemetery. Examples of his work are held by the Leicestershire Museum, Museum of Lincolnshire Life, National Army Museum, National Trust, Royal Agricultural University Collection and the Suffolk Punch Heavy Horse Museum. The National Trust Attingham Park holds a large collection of his portraits of prize winning cattle.
Presentation: The painting is housed in a new, English made gilt frame which is in excellent condition.
Condition: As with all of our original antique oil paintings, this work is offered in ready to hang gallery condition, having been professionally cleaned, restored and revarnished.
© Benton Fine Art
- Creator:William Henry Davis (1786 - 1865, English)
- Creation Year:1839
- Dimensions:Height: 33.25 in (84.46 cm)Width: 41.25 in (104.78 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Nr Broadway, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU156212047932
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 1972
1stDibs seller since 2015
274 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
Associations
The British Antique Dealers' AssociationLAPADA - The Association of Arts & Antiques DealersInternational Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers' Associations
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Nr Broadway, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- 19th Century sporting oil painting of a hunting meetBy Edward Benjamin HerberteLocated in Nr Broadway, WorcestershireEdward Benjamin Herberte British, (1830-1896) The Meet Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1890, embossed makers mark to stretcher Image size: 15.5 inches x 23.5 inches Size including fra...Category
19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- 19th Century sporting oil painting of a huntBy Edward Benjamin HerberteLocated in Nr Broadway, WorcestershireEdward Benjamin Herberte British, (1830-1896) On the Scent Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1890, embossed makers mark to stretcher Image size: 15.5 inches x 23.5 inches Size including...Category
19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- 19th Century landscape oil painting of a logging cart on a country trackBy Henry H. ParkerLocated in Nr Broadway, WorcestershireHenry H Parker British, (1858-1930) At Ewhurst near Guildford, Surrey Oil on canvas, signed & dated (18)95, further transcribed verso Image size: 23.25 inches x 35.25 inches Size including frame: 30.25 inches x 42.25 inches An atmospheric landscape painting of a logging cart and horses on a country track by Henry Parker. A figure and a dog are depicted leading a logging cart and team of horses past a village church as dusk falls. Henry Parker was born in the St Pancras area of London on 27 June, 1860 and was christened Henry Deacon...Category
19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil
- 19th Century coaching scene oil painting outside a Bath innBy John Charles MaggsLocated in Nr Broadway, WorcestershireJohn Charles Maggs British, (1819-1896) Saracens Head Oil on canvas, signed & labelled ‘Bath’ Image size: 13.5 inches x 25.5 inches Size including frame: 21 inches x 33 inches A wo...Category
19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- Pair of 19th Century coaching scene oil paintings of a highway robberyBy John Charles MaggsLocated in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire**PLEASE NOTE: EACH PAINTING INCLUDING THE FRAME MEASURES 19.25 INCHES X 31.25 INCHES** John Charles Maggs British, (1819-1896) Highway Robbery & After the Robbery Oil on canvas, pair, both signed & one dated 1884 Image size: 13.5 inches x 25.5 inches (each) Size including frame: 19.25 inches x 31.25 inches (each) A dramatic pair of coaching paintings...Category
19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- 19th Century Scottish landscape oil painting of a figure with Highland CattleBy Henry GarlandLocated in Nr Broadway, WorcestershireHenry Garland British, (1834-1913) Driving the Cattle ‘Hame’ Oil on canvas, signed & further inscribed & dated 1895 verso Image size: 32.25 inches x 27.25 inches Size including fram...Category
19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil
You May Also Like
- Huge 1830's British Oil Painting on Canvas Farmyard Scene with Animals LandscapeLocated in Cirencester, GloucestershireThe Victorian Farmyard British School, circa 1830 oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 34 x 48 inches provenance: private collection, England condition: good and sound condition, though w...Category
Early 19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil
- ANTIQUE SCOTTISH OIL PAINTING - CATTLE WALKING THE MOUNTAIN PATH - LOCH LONGLocated in Cirencester, GloucestershireArtist/ School: Scottish School, circa 1900 Title: Loch Long Medium: oil painting on canvas, framed Size: frame: 22.25 x 32.25 inches ...Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- Huge Victorian Scottish Oil Painting Highland Cattle Brooding Scottish LandscapeLocated in Cirencester, GloucestershireThe Highland Cattle by J. Henry, Scottish late 19th century oil on canvas, framed in highly ornate antique gilt frame with patterned mouldings and ornate design. framed: 42 x 49.5 i...Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Oil
- Signed Victorian Oil Painting Terrier Dog Chasing Rabbit down Hole Gilt FramedBy Robert CleminsonLocated in Cirencester, GloucestershireThe Terrier and the Rabbit by ROBERT CLEMINSON (1864-1903) signed oil on canvas, framed framed: 24 x 32 inches canvas: 16 x 24 inches provenance: private collection, England conditi...Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Animal Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- 19th century Scottish Highland lock landscape with Highland Cattle drinkingLocated in Woodbury, CTLate 19th century Scottish Highland Lock landscape, with Cattle watering E.Mulready was almost certainly a pseudo name for William Langley a well known English painter of landscapes...Category
1890s Victorian Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
- 19th century Scottish Highland lock landscape with Highland Cattle drinkingLocated in Woodbury, CTLate 19th century Scottish Highland Lock landscape, with Cattle watering E.Mulready was almost certainly a pseudo name for William Langley a well known English painter of landscapes...Category
1890s Victorian Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Canvas
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Study Of A Horse
Horse Painting In Frame
Artist Davis
Oil Painting Of A King
Polish 19th Century Art
Painting Of London 1970s
Two Horse Paintings
Large Oil Of Animals
Oil Painting From Early 20 Century
Brown Oil Painting Horse
19th Century Oil Paintings Of Animals
Horse Painting Old
19th Horse Painting
Antique Oil Painting Horse Paintings
Antique Oil Painting Horse
Horse Oil Paintings Antique
19th Century Painting Horse
Paintings By William Henry