WILLIAM NEDHAM (ENGLISH, ACTIVE 1815-1849), DOGS AND HORSES IN THE GROUNDS OF CLOPTON HOUSE

WILLIAM NEDHAM (ENGLISH, ACTIVE 1815-1849) A MASTIFF, A POMERANIAN, A NEWFOUNDLAND AND A SPANIEL BY A DARK BROWN AND A GREY HUNTER IN THE GROUNDS OF CLOPTON HOUSE, WARWICKSHIRE Oil on canvas Signed and dated '1838' (lower right) 142 x 233cm (55¾ x 91½ in.) Provenance: Almost certainly commissioned by Charles Thomas Warde, Clopton House, WarwickshireWilliam Nedham (active 1815-1849) was a provincial equestrian painter working predominantly in the Leicestershire area. He was a pupil of John Ferneley Senior (1781-1860) and included a Mr V. R Pochin of Barkby Hall amongst his patrons. A comparable work, painted on a smaller scale but dated from the same year is A Hunter and A Dog in the Grounds of Quenby Hall, Leicestershire, Leicestershire County Council Museums Service. Clopton House is a 17th century country mansion near Stratford-upon-Avon, standing on the site of the earlier Clopton Manor, home to Hugh Clopton and dating from the 13th century. The present house was built around the core of the earlier manor by Sir John Clopton during the 17th century. In 1824 the Cloptons sold the estate to Charles Meynell, who in turn sold it to George Lloyd of Welcombe in 1830. After only one year in his new home, George died, and the house passed to his brother John Gamaliel Lloyd in 1831. He remained there until his death in 1837. The house was then inherited by Lloyd's nephew, Charles Thomas Warde who remained in the house until his own death in 1865. Warde was responsible for significant extensions during the 1840s including the now Grade II listed coach house, and Clopton tower. Dated 1838, it is likely that this rare portrait of the family dogs and hunters in the grounds of Clopton, was commissioned by Charles Thomas Warde upon inheriting Clopton house the previous year. Condition Report: The canvas has not been lined but is a little loose. There are two tears to the canvas. the first (approx. 10cm), lower left to the right of the white dog's back paws. The second, (approx. 3cm), upper left to the sky. There is an isolated area of paint shrinkage to the lower right corner around the signature. Stretcher marks visible. Light rubbing and abrasions. including some spots of paint loss throughout, but particularly to the framing edges. Inspection under UV reveals scattered retouching throughout. Condition Report Disclaimer