Peter Beckford's Hounds
Francis Sartorius I (London 1734 - London 1804)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1785
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
972 x 1213 mm (38 1/4 x 47 3/4 in)
Place of origin
Dorset
Order this imageCollection
Upton House, Warwickshire
NT 446701
Caption
Peter Beckford was a cousin of William Beckford, the famous collector (whose portrait by Romney is also at Upton House). He was the first English writer to describe the science of hunting, and he is perhaps best known for his ‘Thoughts on Hunting’, published in 1781. It is said that he “would bag a fox in Greek, find a hare in Latin, inspect his kennels in Italian, and direct the economy of his stables in exquisite French.” This was probably painted around 1785, two years before Beckford relinquished his pack, on setting out for Italy. The enclosure is presumably that of Stepleton Park, which belonged to Beckford, but the house is unidentified, and bears no resemblance to Stepleton House.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Peter Beckford's Hounds, by Francis Sartorius (1734-1804), 1785. A park, with a view of Stepleton House (Iwerne Minster, Dorset) in the distance, in the foreground Beckford's pack of hounds with two hunt servants, who wear livery of buff coats with black facings; they carry short swords, a privilege merited by their master being a ranger of Cranborne Chase.
Provenance
Given with Upton House to the National Trust by Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted (1882 – 1948) shortly before his death in 1948
Credit line
Upton House, The Bearsted Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Francis Sartorius I (London 1734 - London 1804), artist