Keyl, Frederick William (1823-1871), Five Thoroughbreds in Front of Ozleworth Park, Gloucestershire, Oil on Canvas

Frederick William Keyl (1823-1871). Five Thoroughbreds in Front of Ozleworth Park, Gloucestershire. Oil on canvas. Provenance:  Christie's London, 20th April 1990, Important British Pictures. Where acquired by the present owner.  Property of a Distinguished Gentleman of Title. Dimensions:  (Framed): 47 (H) x 64 in. (W) (Canvas): 42 (H) x 60 in. (W) Keyl was born in Frankfurt am Main, and from an early age he showed an interest in drawing animals. From 1847 he lived permanently in England, and was naturalized in 1858. He was the only pupil of Edwin Landseer (sculptor of the lion sculptures at the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square), and through him, Keyl was introduced to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Keyl obtained many commissions from the royal family, producing oil paintings, watercolours and sketches; a notable commission was to paint Looty, the Queen's Pekingese. The present work is one of Keyl’s finest masterpieces exhibiting not only his talent for painting anatomical detail seen so clearly in the musculature of the horses, but also for capturing the natural beauty of the English countryside.