🐴 “Kitty” – Hunter Mare Portrait, Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt

Murray McNeel Caird Urquhart (1880–1972)

🎨 Subject & Medium

A signed and dated oil on canvas equestrian portrait of Kitty, a bay hunter mare, shown saddled in a stable interior. Painted circa 1928 by Scottish-born artist Murray Urquhart, trained in Edinburgh, London, and Paris.

Urquhart builds depth and sheen through finely layered glazes, bringing Kitty’s coat to life. Rustic ochres and greys capture the stable setting with authentic atmosphere.

🖌️ Composition & Technique

Urquhart presents Kitty in a three-quarter stance, a traditional pose that highlights the mare’s conformation. Her glossy coat dominates the canvas, contrasted by the muted tones of the stable wall and floor.

🎨 The palette:

• Warm siennas and umbers model her musculature

• Ochres illuminate the timbers

• Soft greys ground the space

• Crisp highlights in the girth, saddle, and Kitty’s eye add vitality

Urquhart balances precision in the horse and tack with impressionistic brushwork in the background, blending British sporting tradition with Parisian light and atmosphere.

🐎 The Horse & the Hunt

Kitty, a Thoroughbred-type hunter mare in her prime (about 7–10 years old), shows the stamina and courage required for the demanding Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt (CL&C) country of West Sussex — chalk downs, wooded valleys, and heavy clay lanes.

Commissioned as a tribute to her service, this portrait also honours the family’s long association with one of England’s most celebrated packs.

👨🎨 The Artist

Murray McNeel Caird Urquhart (1880–1972)

• Studied at the Edinburgh School of Art, Westminster, and the Académie Julian, Paris

• Exhibited at the Royal Academy, New English Art Club, and Paris Salon

• Renowned for landscapes, portraits, and animal studies

• Works continue to appear at major salerooms, with results up to US $13,000

His paintings unite British naturalism with French impressionist handling of light, producing works that are both accurate and atmospheric.

✍️ Signed

• Lower left: Murray Urquhart, dated 1928

• Upper right: KITTY

🖼️ Frame

Original 1920s beechwood frame, warm-stained with natural patina.
Surface wear and minor losses are consistent with age. The frame remains structurally sound and ready to hang.

📏 Dimensions

• Framed: 57 cm (W) × 49 cm (H) × 2 cm (D)

📜 Provenance

• Private equestrian collection, Chichester (by repute linked to CL&C Hunt stables)

• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

• Exhibited at the Lord Hill Museum

❤️ Why You’ll Love It

✅ Rare signed and dated Urquhart equestrian portrait
✅ A tribute to a mare in her prime, with strong hunting connections
✅ Provenance including private collection, curation, and museum exhibition
✅ Original period frame with charm and authenticity
✅ A significant addition for collectors of sporting, equestrian, or British country house art

🔎 Condition Report

• Original canvas, secure and well-tensioned

• Paint surface in good condition with only light craquelure

• Signature, date, and inscription remain clear and legible

• Frame with minor abrasions, structurally sound

• Overall: Fine condition — ready to hang