Racehorse and Jockey in Yellow Silks
Painting on canvas or board • A.R. Valiant
Style & Movement
Sporting Art / Realism, with a slightly naive or decorative folk art influence.
Medium & Technique
Oil or acrylic painting; employs flat color applications, graphic line work, and stylized realism typical of 20th-century sporting art.
Creation Period
Mid to late 20th Century (circa 1950-1980)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 16 x 20 inches; Landscape format.
Subject Description
The painting depicts a brown Thoroughbred racehorse in a profile side-view, mounted by a jockey wearing yellow silks and white breeches with a number '6' saddle cloth. The background is divided between a flat green turf and a pale, hazy sky, separated by a distant fence line.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; visible surface grime, possible yellowing of varnish, and several abrasions/scuffs to the frame.
Estimated Market Value
$200 - $500
Auction Estimate
$150 - $350
Provenance History
Unknown; likely a private commission or an enthusiast piece from a mid-century stable or racing collection. Signature 'A.R. Valiant' is visible in the lower corner.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the mid-20th century tradition of 'Horse Portraits' commissioned to commemorate specific wins or stables. While the artist is likely a regional or semi-professional sporting painter, the work follows the iconographic lineage of Stubbs and Herring in a simplified, modern mode.
Notable Features
Distinctive block-letter signature 'A.R. VALIANT' in the lower-left corner; the use of high-contrast yellow pigments for the jockey's silks creates a strong focal point against the muted landscape.
Condition Issues
Minor paint loss along edges near the frame, surface dust, potential minor craquelure in heavier paint layers, and frame nicks.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning to remove dust and grime; check for stability of the paint layer; reframing or touching up the current frame would improve aesthetic presentation.
Collector Notes
Signed A.R Valiant