Cheshire Antiques Consultant

Oil Painting Sporting Jockey Joe Mercer On No 2 Race Horse Brigadier Gerard

£2,600.00

Frais de port calculés à la caisse.

This oil painting is an exquisite depiction of legendary jockey Joe Mercer on the celebrated horse Brigadier Gerard. The fine brushwork and exquisite detail make this painting a true work of art and the perfect addition to any luxury home.
Title "Joe Mercer on No 2 Brigadier Gerard".
Subject sporting portrait of the well-known race horse, Brigadier Gerard, being ridden by Joe Mercer in the side profile facing left. Joe Mercer is wearing a light blue top with a pink hat & white trousers with black and brown leather riding boots. He is seated in the saddle holding the horse's reigns. The number 2 can be seen on the horse.
Oil on canvas.
Unsigned. British school artist.
Circa late 20th century 1990s.
Set in the original gilt frame.
A good size with the frame being 72.5 cm wide and 52.6 cm high.
Joseph Mercer, ONE (25 October 1934 – 17 May 2021) was an English thoroughbred race horse jockey. He was active from 1947 to 1985, riding 2,810 winners in Britain. Mercer's nickname was "Smokin' Joe.” Joseph Mercer was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to Emmanuel Mercer, a coach painter, and his wife Jessie. He was one of eight children (four boys, four girls).
He rode donkeys on summer holidays at the seaside with his elder brother, Manny, who became a jockey and died tragically in an accident at Ascot in 1959. Manny recommended Joe to the trainer, Fred Sneyd, to whom he was apprenticed. He was apprenticed to trainer Frederick Sneyd, and he won his first British Classic race in Ambiguity in the 1953 Epsom Oaks as an apprentice. He was British flat racing Champion Apprentice in 1952 and 1953.
He subsequently worked as a stable jockey for Jack Colling, Dick Hern, Henry Cecil and Peter Walwyn. While at Cecil's yard, he won his only British flat racing Champion Jockey's title in 1979. Mercer’s most successful ride was Brigadier Gerard, who won all but one of 18 races between 1970 and 1972. Mercer won every British Classic except the Derby, although he twice was runner-up. He retired as a jockey in November 1985, worked briefly as a jockey's agent, and then became racing manager for Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1987. He retired in January 2006. Mercer's career total of 2,810 winners was exceeded only by Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Doug Smith at the time of his retirement.
Brigadier Gerard (5 March 1968 – 29 October 1989) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from June 1970 until October 1972, he won seventeen of his eighteen races. The colt is rated the best racehorse trained in Britain in the 20th century.
Brigadier Gerard was unbeaten as a two-year-old in 1970, when his most important win came in the Middle Park Stakes. At three, he was again unbeaten, defeating Mill Reef in a famous race for the 2000 Guineas and going on to win the St. James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Goodwood Mile and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over a mile, before moving up in distance to win the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs.
As a four-year-old he won the Locking Stakes, Prince of Wales's Stakes and Eclipse Stakes before moving up in distance to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over one and a half miles. Brigadier Gerard sustained his only defeat when beaten by Roberto in the inaugural running of the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup.
Bred by John Hislop in England and foaled on 5 March 1968, Brigadier Gerard was a son of the stallion Queen's Hussar, winner of the Sussex Stakes and the Locking Stakes, and the non-winning racemate, La Parva, a daughter of Prince Chevalier. On his female side, he traced back to the brilliant fillies' Triple Crown winner, Pretty Polly, who was his fifth dam. This beautifully balanced bay colt was named after Arthur Conan Doyle's swashbuckling hero. Brigadier Gerard had good information, an excellent temperament and stood 16 hands 2 inches high.
Brigadier Gerard was trained during his racing career by Major Dick Hern and ridden in all his races by Joe Mercer. Mayor, wins Washington Singer Stakes 1970, Middle Park Stakes 1970
2000 Guineas 1971, St James Palace Stakes 1971, Sussex Stakes 1971, Goodwood Mile 1971, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 1971 & 1972, Champion Stakes 1971 & 1972, West bury Stakes 1972, Locking Stakes 1972, Prince of Wales Stakes 1972, Eclipse Stakes, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 1972 Awards British Horse of the year 1972, Time form top-rated horse 1971 (equal) 1972.
Reference sources are racingpost, famous racehorses, sportinglife & wikipedia.
Provenance from an auction in the Shires label verso.
Such a delightful scene to the eye, a great conversation piece.
Highly sought after due to the collectible sporting nature of the subject matter and such elaborate detail.
With hanging thread on the back ready for immediate home wall display.
Incredible conversation piece for your guests.
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Condition report.
Offered in fine used condition.
Front painting surface in good overall order. Having some foxing stains in places. Set in the original gilt frame which has general wear, scuffs, stains, & minor losses commensurate with usage & age.
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Dimensions in centimetres of the frame

High (52.6 cm)
Wide (72.5 cm)
Depth thickness of frame (5 cm)