SUNRISE, EXERCISING THE HORSES
signed and dated J.F. Herring / 1840 lower left
oil on canvas
68 x 88.5cm; 26 3/4 x 34 3/4in
98.5 x 118.5cm; 38 3/4 x 46 3/4in (framed)

Property from a Private Collection, East Sussex

Provenance
Sir Eric and Violet Macfadyen, Meopham Park, Kent (Sir Eric, 1879-1966, was an English colonial administrator, rubber planter, businessman and developer of tropical agriculture. He was also Liberal Member of Parliament for Devizes in Wiltshire 1923–1924).
Elizabeth Streetly, née Macfadyen (daughter of the above)
Julia Tulloch (daughter of the above)
Thence by descent to the present owner (daughter of the above)

Sir Eric and Violet Macfadyen moved into Meopham Park in Kent in the early 1930s, the property being within easy reach of London and the estate perfect for pursuing their shared love of riding and hunting. Formerly the home of the painter John Frederick Herrring Senior (1795-1865), the couple took the opportunity to collect the artist's work, as well as that of his son, including the present example. They bought from the London dealers who specialised in sporting pictures, in particular Richard Green Gallery and Arthur Ackermann. In 1965 the couple loaned paintings to an exhibition of Herring Senior's work at The Sporting Gallery, Middleburg, Virginia. Organised by Arthur Ackermann & Son, Violet (1895-1992) contributed to the catalogue. Passionate about the countryside, alongside her equestrian interests she built up a pedigree herd of Guernsey cows and Aberdeen Angus. After Eric died in 1966 Violet remained at Meopham Park until 1989.