Theophilus Levett and a Favorite Hunter

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James Ward, 1769–1859, British, Theophilus Levett and a Favorite Hunter, 1817

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Creator:

James Ward, 1769–1859

Title:

Theophilus Levett and a Favorite Hunter

Former Title(s):

John Levett Hunting at Wychnor, Staffordshire

Portraits of T. Levettt [ sic] and a Favourite Hunter

Captain John Levett out Hunting ...

Portraits of T. Levit, Esq., and a favourite hunter [1818, Royal Academy of Arts, London, exhibition catalogue]

Date:

1817

Materials & Techniques:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

39 1/4 x 51 1/4 inches (99.7 x 130.2 cm), Frame: 46 × 57 1/4 × 2 1/2 inches (116.8 × 145.4 × 6.4 cm)

Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Signed and dated, lower right: "JWARD [monogram] RA 1871."

Credit Line:

Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection

Copyright Status:

Public Domain

Accession Number:

B2001.2.213

Classification:

Paintings

Collection:

Paintings and Sculpture

Link to Frame:

B2001.2.213FR

Subject Terms:

Associated Places:

Associated People:

Levett, Theophilus

Access:

Not on view

Link:

https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:42750

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The Levett family of Staffordshire was on close terms with James Ward and bought and commissioned a number of works from him. Here, Theophilus Levett has climbed a hill, high above the rest of the hunt, where he cuts a heroic and commanding figure, the mud spattered on his coat serving as a reminder of the hard riding he has done. Only he and his hunter can see the fox, which is running over the hill on the right to escape the hounds in the valley below. The view of the Trent Valley shows the artist’s close study of the landscapes of Peter Paul Rubens.

Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2016

Ward has chosen to portray the climactic moment of a fox-hunt, enabling him to demonstrate his talents at horse portraiture, sporting subjects, and landscape, all at once. Hidden behind the hill in the foreground, the location of the fox can be estimated at the convergence of the horse’s gaze, the master’s riding crop, the muzzle of the leading horse below, and the trajectory of the pack of hounds. Ward intensifies the drama of the moment by contrasting the agitation of the animals with the composure of the master. Striking details such as the distinctive markings of the horse and the mud on Mr. Levett’s red coat emphasize Ward’s easy familiarity with his subject.

Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2012

The Levett family of Staffordshire were on close terms with Ward, and bought and commissioned a number of works from him. Here John Levett has climbed a hill high above the rest of the hunt, where he cuts a heroic and commanding figure, the mud spattered on his coat serving as a reminder of the hard riding he has done. Only he and his hunter can see the fox, which is running over the hill on the right. The view of the Trent valley in the background shows the artist's close study of the landscapes of Rubens.

Malcolm Warner

Warner, Malcolm and John Baskett. The Paul Mellon Bequest: Treasures of a Lifetime. New Haven : Yale Center for British Art, 2001, p. 57

Paul Mellon - A Cambridge Tribute (The Fitzwilliam Museum, 2007-06-12 - 2007-09-23) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]

James Ward (Yale Center for British Art, 2004-05-21 - 2004-08-22) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition] [Exhibition Description]

The Paul Mellon Bequest : Treasures of a Lifetime (Yale Center for British Art, 2001-02-17 - 2001-04-29) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition] [Exhibition Description]

Oliver Beckett, The life and work of James Ward, R.A., 1769-1859, the forgotten genius , Book Guild, Lewes (England), 1995, pp.2, 52, 99. 198, no.229, Col. Pl. 12, NJ18 W21 B42 1995 (YCBA) [YCBA]

British sporting painting, 1650-1850, [catalogue of an exhibition held at the] Hayward Gallery, London 13 December 1974-23 February 1975, Leicestershire Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester, 8 March-6 April 1975, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 25 April-25 May, 1975 , Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1974, p. 89, no. 137, ND1388 G7 A78 (YCBA) [YCBA]

David Coombs, Sport and the Countryside in English Paintings, Water Colours, and Prints, Phaidon, Oxford, 1978, p. 114, ND1388 G7 C66 OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

Theodore Crombie, Nuances of Neo-Classicism, Apollo, vol 96.2, October 1972, p. 351, fig. 4, N1 A54 96.2 OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts : Exhibition Catalogue. 1818. 50th, Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, no. 50, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1818, p. 11, no. 154, N5054 A53 v. 3 (YCBA) [YCBA]

Fanfare for Europe - The British Art Market 1973, Connoisseur, vol 182, January 1973, p. 63, N1 C75 182 OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

Julia Frankau, William Ward, A.R.A, James Ward, R.A., Their Lives and Works , The Macmillan Company, London, 1904, p. 128, NJ18 W21 F73 1904 (YCBA) [YCBA]

Algernon Graves, The Royal Academy of Arts, A complete dictionary of contributors and their work from its foundation in 1769 to 1904 , , Henry Graves & Co., London, 1905 - 1906, vol. VIII p. 144, 1818, no.154, N5054 G73 (YCBA) [YCBA]

C. Reginald Grundy, James Ward R.A., his life and works, with a catalogue of his engravings and pictures , Otto limited, London, 1909, p. 51, no. 685, NJ18 W21 G7+ OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

Hunting and Racing Exhibition, April 22 - May 10, 1939 , The Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, 1939, no. 54, N8250 B35 1939 (YCBA) [YCBA]

B. N., General, Burlington Magazine, vol 115, January 1973, p. 52, N1 B87 115 OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

Geraldine Norman, New York Sale Could be a Fare Taste of What Will Happen Under VAT, The Times (London), London, 2 May 1972, p. 2, Available online: Times Digital Archives [ORBIS]

Edward John Nygren, Art of James Ward R.A. (1769-1859) [PhD Dissertation, Yale University], New Haven, CT, 1976, pp. 90-91, 177, fi. 128, NJ18 .W21 N95 1976A (YCBA) [YCBA]

Edward John Nygren, James Ward's Papers, An 1826 Diary in Context , Getty Research Journal, no. 3, 2011, p. 187, Available online: JSTOR [ORBIS]

Edward John Nygren, James Ward, RA (1769-1859) : Papers and Patrons, Volume of the Walpole Society, vol. 75, 2013, p. 316, no. 288, Pl. XXXIV, N12 W35 +A1Oversize (YCBA) [YCBA]

Richard Green catalogue : Annual exhibition of sporting paintings : 5-28 October 1972, Richard Green Gallery, Richard Green, London, 1972, lot 45, DealerCat Richard Green (YCBA) [YCBA]

Richard Green, [ Advertisement ] Richard Green Gallery, London Exhibit, Apollo, vol 96, October 1972, p. 5, N1 A54 (LC) [ORBIS]

Richard Green, London Exhibit, Burlington Magazine, vol 114, October 1972, p. Ixxxv, N1 B87 114 OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

Keith Roberts, London, Burlington Magazine, vol 117, February 1975, p. 123, N1 B87 117 OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

Duncan Robinson, Paul Mellon: a Cambridge tribute, , The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge [England], 2007, pp. 28-29, N5220 M552 P36 2007 (YCBA) [YCBA]

Sotheby, Parke-Bernet, New York, Exhibit, Connoisseur, vol 179, April 1972, p. 106, N1 C75 179 OVERSIZE (YCBA) [YCBA]

The Sale Room, The Times (London), London, 17 December 1938, p. 12, Available online: Times Digital Archive Also available on Microfilm: Film An T482 (SML) [ORBIS]

Malcolm Warner, The Paul Mellon Bequest : treasures of a lifetime, , Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, CT, 2001, p. 57, N5247 M385 P28 2001 (YCBA) [YCBA]

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