John Musters Esq on his grey horse 'Baronet' and his hounds meeting at Covert-side in Annesley Park, Nottinghamshire, with his first whip T Maxwell on the brown mare and second whip on the chestnut. The hounds are: Comedy, Bluecap, Harkaway, Collier, Reginald, Rummager, Nimrod, Druid, Niobe, Primrose, Hotspur, Wachman, Duster, Hector, Freeman, Anxious, Frederick and Pillager.
Engraved on reverse: By C.E. Wagstaff, London, and dedicated to 'The Fox hunters of the United Kingdom'
The picture was printed by Ackerman & Co of 96, The Strand on August 4th 1847.
See hand colored engraving at the Yale Center for British Art, and a print at the British Museum.
John (Jack) Musters, Esquire (1777 - 1849)
John Musters of Colwick, Nottinghamshire was named 'The King of Gentleman Hunters' such was his skill and enthusiasm for the sport. His fortune was dedicated to the life of a sporting squire and he was a leading light in the golden age of fox hunting. He was master of the Pytchley hunt from 1821 to 1827. He married Mary Ann Chaworth who was the sole heiress of the old family of Chaworth of Annesley whose house is visible in the present painting.
Richard Barrett Davis ( 1782 - 1854 )
Richard Barrett Davis was born into a family of very keen huntsmen. His father was the celebrated R.B. Davis Snr, huntsman to the Royal Staghounds and brother to the equally famous Charles Davis, Master of the King's Buckhounds. Richard Barrett Davis' life was centred on the royal residence at Windsor, where for years he was a keen foot-follower of hounds. His initial art training at the behest of George III was under Sir Francis Bourgeois. He then trained under William Evans, drawing master of Eton College, followed by Sir William Beechey who was the royal portrait painter. In 1831 he was appointed animal painter to King William IV. With such an important position at court, his work was in great demand and he received many commissions from the aristocracy and the gentry.