Lot 75: Members of the Hopton Hunt 1841

Members of the Hopton Hunt 1841 signed and dated 'J Paul 1841' (lower left) oil on canvas 102 x 127cm (40 3/16 x 50in).

102x 127cm

Presented to Mr Jex by members of the Hopton Hunt, thence by descent.

William Jex was master of the Hopton Hunt, who hunted a Harrier pack. The country hunted was just North of Great Yarmouth down to Lowestoft around the Rivers Waveny and Yare. The country extended inland but probably not as far as Norwich. Jex was resident at Hopton Hall, or Manor where the hounds were also kennelled; they met on Mondays and Thursdays. The Hopton Harriers appear to have amalgamated with other local packs, the Waveney Harriers now hunt the same area. The artist John Paul, son of the Norwich landscape artist Joseph Paul, 1804 – 1887, was known for his equestrian paintings and was working during the middle of the nineteenth century, this example is one of his earliest dated works.