Located in the beautiful Virginia countryside, in the
historic town of Middleburg, is a remarkable museum and library dedicated to the art, literature and culture of horse and field sports, it is called the National Sporting Library and Museum.
I recently had the opportunity to visit this museum and view
an outstanding exhibition called “Out in the Open”, featuring approximately 70
paintings by British artist Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959). Munnings is best known for his paintings of
horses and race scenes. I was familiar with some of his work, but this
comprehensive exhibition made me appreciate the brilliance of this artist.
The Morning Ride, Florence Munnings on Horseback, Sir Alfred Munnings, 1913, oil on canvas.
The Morning Ride, Florence Munnings on Horseback, Sir Alfred Munnings, 1913, oil on canvas.
Munnings did most of his work outside, en plein air. His confident, rapid brushwork is reminiscent of John Singer Sargent and Joaquin Sorolla and their depictions of sun soaked
landscapes and figures. Munnings paintings, created outdoors from direct observation,
are brilliant and nuanced. Indeed,
Munnings biographer wrote, “The call of the sun was one of the strongest forces
in his career.”
The son of a miller, Munnings was born in 1878 in Mendham,
Great Britain. In 19th
century England horses were part of every life, but it was the gift of a toy
horse that got Munnings interested in this magnificent animal and its portrayal.
Study of a Clipped Bay Hunter "Bitter Sweet", Sir Alfred Munnings, 1923, oil on panel.
Study of a Clipped Bay Hunter "Bitter Sweet", Sir Alfred Munnings, 1923, oil on panel.
Among the various themes painted by Munnings was his
depiction of horse races. One in particular
reminded me of Edgar Degas and his race scenes.
“Almost Away” is a tightly composed painting featuring a contrasting riot
of jockey silk colors. This painting, the color and expression of the horses
evokes the raw energy of the race.
Almost Away, Sir Alfred Munnings, 1945, oil on canvas.
Almost Away, Sir Alfred Munnings, 1945, oil on canvas.
In many of the paintings Munnings juxtaposes highly polished
passages with abstract ones. In the
piece “In the Covert” he paints the horse and rider in a refined manner and
surrounds them with a futurist like depiction of the hounds and landscape.
In the Covert, Sir Alfred Munnings, 1920, oil on canvas.
In the Covert, Sir Alfred Munnings, 1920, oil on canvas.
Castle Hill in Essex, Munnings’ elegant home for forty
years, is a museum dedicated to his work. It houses a collection of over 600
works by Munnings including numerous landscapes and cloud studies of the surrounding
countryside.
Cloud Study by Sir Alfred Munnings, oil on canvas.
Cloud Study by Sir Alfred Munnings, oil on canvas.
This extraordinary exhibition closed on September 15, 2013. The
National Sporting Library and Museum was its only venue. I was very fortunate to see this exhibition before it
closed. I would recommend that if you
are interested in learning more about this fascinating artist you read the
exhibition catalog “Munnings, Out in the Open”’ published by the National
Sporting Museum and Library. There is a
movie called “Summer in February”, based on the 1996 book by Jonathan Smith of
the same title, about Munnings that is soon to be released.
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