Lot 154: Attributed to Thomas Bardwell (British, 1704-1767) Ned Baldry's shell horse in a landscape

Attributed to Thomas Bardwell (British, 1704-1767)
Ned Baldry's shell horse in a landscape oil on canvas183 x 189cm (72 1/16 x 74 7/16in).

Provenance: Captain Suckling, Hampshire in 1910The Old Rectory, Banningham, NorfolkTheir sale, Bonhams, Banningham, 22-24 March 2004, lot 226, where purchased byEdric Van Vredenburgh, by whom offeredHis sale, Sotheby's, London, 6 June 2006, lot 71, where purchased by the present owner Literature: Lt. Col. J.R.Harvey, Deer Hunting in Norfolk, Norwich, 1910, pp.13-18, ill.Edward Baldry (1705-1759) was taken on in the stables of Woodton Hall, Norfolk, home of the Suckling family, at the age of thirteen and rose to become huntsman to the Woodton Hunt, with the finest pack of hounds in the neighbourhood. The story is recounted in 'Deer Hunting in Norfolk' that Ned bought a poor old horse at Bungay fair to feed the hounds, but thinking better of her after a few weeks decided to breed her, and the following year she produced a fine skewbald foal. The foal depicted in this piece is named after the Norfolk term for skewbald coat which is 'shell.' When Denzil Suckling died in 1747 he left Ned "the fine pack of hounds and the old 'shelled horse', and ample funds for their maintenance." Ned took the hounds to Ireland and then to France where he hunted for the King at Versailles. He returned to Woodton and was buried in the churchyard beneath the following inscription:"In memory of Edw. Baldrey, who departed this life, February 24th, 1759, aged 53.Here lies a huntsman, who was stout and bold,His judgement such as could not be controlled,Few of his calling could with him compare,For skill in hunting fox or fallow deer.He shew his art in England, Ireland and France,And rests in this churchyard, being his last chance."His 'shelled horse' was buried nearby in the park beyond the church wall.