Oil on Canvas, 'The Chaise Match Run', Attributed to James Seymour, c.1750

A magnificent landscape depiction of a feat of equestrian prowess, the famous 'Chaise Match Run' on Newmarket Heath, which saw the Earls of March and Eglinton bet, and win, 1000 Guineas that a team could pull a carriage 19 miles in one hour. The four steeds pulling the chaise were all racehorses, and the passenger, a boy, was chosen for his lightness. A groom in a red coat rides ahead, clearing the course of the substantial crowd which gathered, eschewed by Seymour in his depiction of the run.

Signed 'J. Seymour pinxt' bottom right hand side of canvas.

In composition, almost identical to the work currently held at the Yale Center for British Art, which was reproduced and printed widely at the time. Our work shows a difference in treatment; the the flat tones of the other work are replaced here with a greater subtlety and depth of treatment, in many ways similar to the style of John Wootton.

Many versions of this scene were produced, and sold en masse as souvenirs of this impressive and famous event.

See also:

The Chaise Match Run on Newmarket Heath on Wednesday the 29th of August, 1750, by James Seymour

(1702-1752) oil on canvas (H 106.7 x W 167.6 cm), in the Paul Mellon Collection at Yale Center for British Art

(Accession number B2014.5.25).

Ref: 6372

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