Dec 05, 2013 - Sale 2334

Sale 2334 - Lot 388

Unsold
Estimate: $ 2,500 - $ 3,500
(SPORT--POLO.) Earl, George. [Polo Match at Herlingham between the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) and the Monmouthshire Team.] Hand-colored lithographed print after a painting by George Earl, 505x1025 mm (19 3/4x40 inches); some repairable abrading along left edge, small area of overcoloring in sky above the field; light even toning; entirely mounted to a board; framed. England, circa 1880

Additional Details

The painting from which this print is taken is considered to be the earliest known painting of a polo match played in England. The match took place on July 7, 1878 at Hurlingham. Earl's painting is dated 1878, so it must have been executed shortly after the match. The painting was in several collections before being offered at public auction in 1999 where it sold for just under $450,000. This print after the painting was surely printed soon after Earl finished his painting. It is not captioned and does not bear the artist's name. It may have been issued thus or in a larger format with imprint line and caption. We find no other copy of this print in public or private hands.