The Meet (A Distinguished Hunt Gathering)
Original oil painting on canvas • Attributed to the Anglo-American Sporting School (style of John Lewis Brown or E. Benjamin Herberte)
Style & Movement
Sporting Art / British Academic Realism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; fine-scale realism with academic blending and glazing techniques
Creation Period
Late 19th Century (circa 1880-1900)
Dimensions & Format
Large-scale rectangular horizontal landscape format, estimated 24 x 48 inches (sight)
Subject Description
A large-scale panoramic hunt scene depicting a group of equestrian figures and gentlemen in formal hunting attire (pink coats and top hats) gathered before a hunt. The composition features a frieze-like arrangement of horses and riders against a muted landscape backdrop under an overcast sky.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Fair; appears to have aged varnish and surface grime, with some softening of details due to photography glare
Estimated Market Value
$2,000 - $4,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$1,500 - $3,000 USD
Provenance History
Currently held by Dovetail Auctions, Downingtown, PA; likely originally from a private estate collection in the Mid-Atlantic region specializing in equestrian lifestyle
Art Historical Significance
Represents the late Victorian fascination with sporting life and social status, serving as a social document of the leisure class and equestrian traditions of the period.
Notable Features
Distinguished by the quantity of individualized portraits within the group, suggesting this may have been a commissioned commemorative work of a specific hunt club or social group.
Condition Issues
Visible surface sheen suggesting a heavy or aging varnish; potential fine craquelure consistent with age; possible minor frame rub along the top edge.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and varnish removal/replacement; inspection for canvas tension; mounting in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight.