Lot 89: Benjamin Killingbeck (active 1763-1789)

Benjamin Killingbeck (active 1763-1789)
Mr Walsh's Perdita, with a jockey up, on Nantwich racecourse
signed and dated 'Benjn. Killingbeck Pinx 1781.' (lower right)
oil on canvas
24¼ x 29½ in. (61.6 x 74.9 cm.)

Mr and Mrs A.T. Vulliamy; Christie's, London, 22 June 1979, lot 83 (sold for £2,500).

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Perdita won the Noblemen and Gentlemen's Purse of £50 on 10 July 1781, the only race that day at Nantwich, beating Mr Pratt's Foreman and Sir Harry Harper's colt by Jupiter. This caused quite a stir, since it was Perdita's only ever win, while Foreman's had already won all of his three races that year, and Sir Harry's colt his only other race that year.