Lot 64: Harry Hall (British, 1814-1882)

Harry Hall (British, 1814-1882)
Mr. P.P. Rolt's Collingwood, with Nat Flatman up
oil on canvas
28 x 36 in. (71.1 x 91.4 cm.)

Charles Lane, Harry Hall's Classic Winners, London, 1990, pl. 47, p. 32.

with Arthur Ackermann and Son, Ltd., London.

Property from the Estate of Leona M. Helmsley

Collingwood was a bay colt foaled in 1843 by Sheet Anchor out of Kalmia by Magistrate. Sheet Anchor was by Lottery (see lot 31) out of Morgiana. Collingwood was a strong horse who ran in seventy races. Bred by Mr George Payne, Collingwood raced from 1845 to 1850, running no less that seventy times. He won thirty-four races, frequently ridden by the champion jockey Nat Flatman. After winning numerous minor races for Mr. Payne, he was claimed for only £150 by Mr. P. Rolt after his success in the Cowdray Stakes at Goodwood.

In view of Collingwood's later career, this mistake by Mr. Payne, a notoriously unlucky owner, in exposing his horse in a claimer was one of his worse errors. He was an extremely versatile horse able to run in such diverse races as the 6 furlong Stewards Cup at Goodwood and the Ascot Gold Cup over 2½ miles. In the former he was beaten a short head by another of Mr. Rolt's horses.

Amongst his many triumphs perhaps the chief were his wins in the 1847 Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood and the 1849 Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. In all he won thirty four races and was retired to stud at Maresfield Park in Sussex at 11 guineas. In a fairly short career he was rather successful below top class level, siring the winners of 128 races, but he got no outstanding horses and his death went unrecorded.

Nat Flatman (1810-1860) was the Champion Jockey thirteen years in a row. He raced in both England and France and was painted by Harry Hall and John Frederick Herring, Sen. and Jun.

Harry Hall (1814-1882) was considered to be one of the most important and prolific equestrian painters of his generation, filling in the void left by the death of John Frederick Herring, Sen. (1795-1865). He was recorded working firstly at Tattersalls, contributing to their publications British Racehorses and The Sporting Review and then on The Field. Furthermore, during the course of his career, 114 engravings of his racing portraits were published in The Sporting Magazine.