Description

Title: Kitty Bay Hunter Mare of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt Stables

Description: “Kitty” – Hunter Mare of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt Stables
Murray McNeel Caird Urquhart (1880–1972)

Subject & Medium
A signed and dated oil on canvas equestrian portrait of Kitty, a bay/brown hunter mare, portrayed saddled and standing in a stable interior. Painted circa 1928 by Murray Urquhart, a Scottish-born artist trained in Edinburgh, London, and Paris. Urquhart uses oil to masterly effect, building up layers of glaze to give the mare’s coat its sheen and depth, while rustic ochres and greys describe the stable with earthy authenticity.

Composition & Technique
Urquhart composes Kitty in a three-quarter stance, a classic pose in equestrian portraiture to highlight conformation. The mare’s gleaming coat dominates the canvas, offset by the muted stable wall and flagged floor.
The colour palette is warm and harmonious: rich siennas and umbers define musculature; ochres glow in the stable timbers; cool greys anchor the foreground. Highlights — the crisp white girth, polished saddle leather, and subtle gleam in the horse’s eye — animate the scene.
Urquhart blends academic precision (in the eye, muzzle, and tack) with impressionistic brushwork (in the wall, floor, and light effects), balancing realism with painterly atmosphere. His Paris training is evident in the handling of light and texture, while the composition remains firmly rooted in the British equestrian tradition.

About the Horse & the Hunt
Kitty is a hunter mare of Thoroughbred type, painted in her prime years, approximately 7–10 years old. Her proud neck, deep girth, and strong hindquarters suggest stamina and courage — the qualities essential for a long day’s hunting.
The English hunting saddle and plain bridle confirm her working role in the field. Horses like Kitty were prized in the Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt (CL&C) country of West Sussex. In 1928 the CL&C was one of England’s most celebrated packs, covering chalk downs, wooded coombes, and heavy clay lanes — terrain demanding bold and athletic hunters.
By repute, Kitty belonged to a family associated with this hunt country, and her portrait was commissioned to honour her contribution. Such works were more than decoration: they were permanent tributes to trusted field companions and emblems of a family’s place in England’s sporting life.

The Artist
Murray McNeel Caird Urquhart (1880–1972) studied at the Edinburgh School of Art, Westminster, and the Académie Julian in Paris. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, the New English Art Club, and the Paris Salon.
Urquhart’s works reflect a blend of British naturalism with French impressionistic light, resulting in paintings that are both accurate and atmospheric. He is known for landscapes, portraits, and animal studies, and his works continue to appear at leading salerooms, achieving prices up to US $13,000.

Signed
Lower left: Murray Urquhart & dated 1928
Upper right: KITTY

Frame
Original beechwood frame, stained a warm brown, period-appropriate to the 1920s. The frame’s straight grain and subtle patina complement the rustic subject. It shows surface wear & some minor losses consistent with age, but remains structurally sound and ready for display.

Dimensions
Framed: 57 cm Width × 49 cm High x 2 cm Depth

Provenance
Private equestrian collection, Chichester (by repute associated with the CL&C Hunt stables)
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.
Exhibited: Famous Lord Hill Museum

Why You’ll Love It
A rare signed and dated equestrian portrait by Murray Urquhart
Depicts a mare in her prime, celebrated for her role in the hunt
Strong provenance, with private collection, curation, and museum exhibition (by repute)
Direct connection to the Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt, one of England’s most storied packs
Original beechwood period frame, adding authenticity and charm
A significant piece for collectors of sporting, equestrian, or British country house art

Condition Report
Original canvas, stable and well-tensioned
Paint surface in very good condition with only minor age-related craquelure
Signature, date, and inscription are clear and legible
Beechwood frame with light abrasions & some minor losses, structurally sound
Overall, in fine condition and ready to hang

Reserve: $6,581.00

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Condition

Used

Buyer's Premium

15%

Kitty Bay Hunter Mare of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt Stables

Name: Kitty Bay Hunter Mare of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt Stables
SKU: 231882404
Price: 3200 USD
Availability: InStock