A Horse called 'Wenn', with his Groom and other Figures, at Newmarket
Joseph Brook (fl.1690 - d.1725)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1716
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
965 x 1245 mm (38 x 49 in)
Place of origin
England.
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 851849
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, A Horse called 'Wenn', by Joseph Brook (fl.1690 - d.1725), inscribed: The Horse Call’d Wenn. Bred by the Earle of Bristol Who Wonn 21 Matches at Newmarket, and above 5000 Guineas. December ye VIIe 1716. Dark bay horse held by groom in terracotta-coloured coat. Maidservant on right in terracotta and red outfit with white blouse with sleeves rolled up to elbows, carrying a shallow basket on her head. Water pitcher in right hand. On left, seated on ground, an old beggar with walking stick and another figure holding a lighted torch. Background flat with hill and buildings in distance on left. Hazy pink and blue colouring with sunset pink clouds on horizon - small amount of blue sky showing through at top. Grey stone post on left behind seated figures. Brown shed on right with door hanging draped over the lintel. Wenn was apparently bought before ever racing, since the name does not occur amongst the 1st Earl’s records of his purchases of horses in his ‘Book of Expences’ (Diary, section VI., pp.120-128), and indeed, the 1st Earl twice proudly records that he bred him himself. His first success was recorded on 29 November 1703: “My Wen beat ye Duke of Argyle’s roan and won me above eleven hundred pounds.” (Diary, p.40). The later records are of 6 April 1705: “I received 325 guineas of Lord Kingston and others for Snouts forfeit to Wen” (p.42); 9 April 1706: “Tuesday, my Wenn beat Lord Kingstons white mare called pipeing Peg, 8 miles for 500 guineys” (p.44); 15 April: “Tuesday, Wenn beat ye said mare 8 miles for 500 guineys more” (ibid.); 23 April: “Tuesday ye said mare paid Wenn a forfeit of 250 guineys more” (ibid.); 30 April: “Tuesday, Wenn beat fframptons Toney 8 miles for 300 guineys” (ibid.); 7 May: “Tuesday, Wenn beat ye Bury-mare 4 miles for 200 guineys” (ibid.); 7 October: “Pipeing Peg paid an other forfeit to Wenn of 250 guineys” (p.45); 30 October: “Wensday [sic], my Wenn beat Lord Treasurers horse Chance 10 stone 4 miles for 600 guineys each side.” (ibid.); in 1708: 8 May: “My horse Wenn beat Mr. Frampton’s Sparke. I won but 170 guineys by this match.” (p.47); in 1710, 6 May: “My famous horse Wenn, bred in Barrow Parke by me, wonn his twentieth match, by beating the Whiteneck mare of Mr. Curwyns bred for 200 guineys.” (p.51); 9 October: “Munday, my famous horse called Wenn, bred by my self, wonn his one & twentieth match against ye Patty mare, on which I wonn 260 guineys” (p.52). This is the last entry; so, presumably, by the time that Brook made this portrait of the horse, he had been put out to grass for five years or so.
Credit line
Ickworth, The Bristol Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to The National Trust in 1956)
Makers and roles
Joseph Brook (fl.1690 - d.1725), artist