🎨 Edwardian Champion Show Horse Watercolour — “Pretty Polly, Prize-Winning Grey Mare with Groom, Hertfordshire County Show 1908” by John Edwin Noble (1876–1941)

🖼️ Subject & Medium 

A fine original Edwardian framed watercolour on paper by John Edwin Noble, depicting Pretty Polly — a celebrated grey show horse mare and hunter who secured multiple accolades at the 1908 Hertfordshire County Show.

The mare is proudly adorned with her rosettes:

• 🥇 Red rosette — 1st Prize

• 🥈 Blue rosette — 2nd Prize

Beside her stands her groom, authentically dressed in Edwardian equestrian attire: breeches, buttoned gaiters, sturdy boots, waistcoat, dark jacket, and flat cap. Research suggests he may have been connected with the Smith-Dorrien family of Berkhamsted, prominent landowners and equestrian patrons of the period.

The full inscribed title, “Pretty Polly, First Place Prize Winning Champion Grey Mare Show Horse with Groom Up of Smith-Dorriens of Berkhamsted, 22 August 1908,” firmly situates the piece in Edwardian equestrian culture.

🎪 The 1908 Hertfordshire County Show

The Hertfordshire County Horse Show was a prestigious annual event, combining agricultural competitions with equestrian classes for hunters, hacks, ponies, and riding horses. By 1908, it was a highlight of the county’s sporting and social calendar, drawing hunt members, landowners, and gentry families.

The Smith-Dorrien family of Berkhamsted were frequent competitors and patrons of the Hertfordshire and Old Berkeley Hunts. Within this milieu, Pretty Polly’s prize-winning success was a celebrated achievement — perfectly captured in Noble’s elegant portrait.

🐎 Composition & Technique

Noble depicts Pretty Polly in a three-quarter standing pose, head turned slightly, ears pricked, exuding composure and presence. Her silvery-grey coat is painted in layered translucent washes, enriched with warm ochres and subtle sepias to suggest sheen and musculature.

• The vivid rosettes in crimson and cobalt blue act as focal points, symbols of her victories.

• The groom, in earthy tones, provides a tonal counterbalance, his upright stance echoing the mare’s proud bearing.

Noble’s technique blends precision with painterly expressiveness: fine strokes define anatomy and detail, while broader washes capture atmosphere and immediacy. The result is more than a sporting portrait — it is a lyrical celebration of Edwardian equestrian success.

✍️ Signed

Signed and dated lower right: “J.E. Noble, 22/VIII/08.”

👨🎨 About the Artist

John Edwin Noble (1876–1941) was one of Britain’s notable animal and equestrian painters, son of the celebrated sporting artist John Sargent Noble.

• Studied at the Slade, Lambeth, and Royal Academy Schools.

• Exhibited at the Royal Academy, Royal Scottish Academy, and Fine Art Society (1898–1930).

• Served in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps during WWI and was appointed Official War Artist, producing poignant studies of horses and mules.

• Lecturer at Central and Camberwell Schools of Arts & Crafts.

• Designed posters for London Underground (1916) and published A Little Book of Birds and Beasts.

Today, his works are highly regarded for their accuracy, sensitivity, and historical importance, with auction prices reaching over $9,000 in 2024.

🪞 Framed Presentation

• Recently fitted gold-leaf reverse-profile gilt moulded frame

• New ivory-white mount with fine gold border

• Protected under museum-grade AR70 anti-reflective glass (UV protection & minimal glare)

This professional conservation-standard framing enhances the artwork’s beauty while ensuring long-term preservation — a significant investment, ready for display in any fine collection.

📏 Dimensions (framed)

• 54 cm × 54 cm × 3 cm

📜 Provenance

• Culverhouse & Son, Hemel Hempstead

• Dorset Auction (notable sale)

• Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

• Exhibited: Middle Shire Museum

❤️ Why Collectors Will Love It

✅ Rare, dated equestrian watercolour with named champion mare
✅ Documents the Hertfordshire County Show of 1908
✅ Groom possibly tied to the Smith-Dorrien family of Berkhamsted
✅ Signed by a renowned Edwardian equestrian artist
✅ Excellent provenance & museum exhibition history
✅ Presented in a museum-standard gilt frame with AR70 glass
✅ Cross-appeal: sporting art, horse show history, Edwardian culture

🔍 Condition Report

Very good condition. Colours remain bright and unfaded, with only light, age-appropriate toning to the paper.
Professionally conserved and framed — ready to hang immediately.

🌍 Worldwide Shipping Available
Professionally packaged and fully insured for safe international delivery.

🖼️ Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

📩 Inquire now to secure this unique piece