John Whessell (1760 - 1824) The Duke of Grafton's 'Penelope'...

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Hammer

£2,500

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John Whessell (1760 - 1824)
The Duke of Grafton's 'Penelope'
Oil on canvas
Inscribed verso 'Penelope, / Duke of Grafton's Mare / 1806'
Exhibited in the Royal Academy, 1806

Penelope (1798-1824), out of Trumpator by Prunella, was a dark bay thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by the Duke of Grafton at Euston Hall, Thetford, Norfolk; she was the grand-daughter of the famous Highflyer. Penelope won 18 races for the Duke of Grafton without being quite top class but far exceeded her racing performance at stud as she bred for the Duke of Grafton two Derby winners in Whisker and Whalebone. Both later became fine stallions and one of her daughters named 'Woful' won both the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks so Penelope is one of the most illustrious broodmares of all time. Whessell produced an etching of the racehorse.

Dimensions:
(Canvas) 14.5 in. (H) x 19.5 in. (W)
(Frame) 17.5 in. (H) x 22.5 in. (W)