Overall: 30cm (13in) x 39cm (15.2in)
Oil on canvas. Portrait of the thoroughbred Persimmon. Inscribed ‘Persimmon’ upper left. Signed and dated lower left ‘A. Clark’. Canvas: 26cm (10.5in) x 30.7cm (12in). Contained in giltwood frame.
The 1896 Epsom Derby royal win by the Prince of Wales’s Persimmon over St. Frusquin was immensely popular with the general public, and it inspired a number of equestrian portraits of the three year old colt. It was the first royal Derby win since 1788 when the then Prince of Wales (later George IV) triumphed. The 1896 Derby was also notable as the first to be filmed. The Prince of Wales who was not only Persimmon’s owner but also his breeder, was cheered for a full quarter of an hour as he led his winning colt through the crowd after the race.
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Persimmon (1893-1908) was foaled by St. Simon out of Perdita, the full brother to Diamond Jubilee, another of the Prince's successful racehorses. In 1896 Persimmon additionally won the St. Leger at Doncaster over the Duke of Westminster’s colt Labrador, and the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, beating the Prime Minister’s Sir Visto by two lengths to take the £10,000 prize. Persimmon was trained throughout his career by Richard Marsh at his Egerton House Stable at Newmarket.
Albert Clark (1843-1928) was the second son to the animal painter James Clark under whom he trained. Albert's speciality was of horses and he was regularly commissioned to paint racehorse portraits often with the jockey on board. The annual Islington Horse Show held near the artist's London home, provided Clark with a regular flow of prize winning animals over many years.