British Impressionist Sir Alfred Munnings (1878–1959) is best remembered for his spirited depictions of horses, a subject that defined his long and varied career. Raised in the Suffolk countryside where his family owned a mill, Munnings grew up immersed in rural life. His early experiences as a stable hand, combined with a lifelong fascination with the traveller community, formed the foundation of his equestrian portraiture. Today, his paintings remain among the most celebrated in the genre.
Munnings’ journey as an artist was shaped by resilience. At just 20 years old, he lost the sight in his right eye following an accident. Despite this, he continued to draw and paint with vigour. During the First World War, Munnings volunteered his service. His disability meant he was assigned to a horse remount depot, a unit responsible for purchasing and training horses for military use. There, his two great passions – art and horses – intersected in a profound way.
Later in the war, Munnings was appointed an official war artist for the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. He was commissioned to record the regiment’s movements and activities, and he produced many portraits of Canadian generals and their steeds. In 1919, 45 of these works were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London to critical acclaim. His vivid portrayals of wartime equestrian life helped cement his national reputation. His contributions to art and documentation of war continue to resonate today – a major exhibition of his work was held in 2023 at the Canadian War Museum, drawn from the Beaverbrook Collection of War Art.
As Munnings’ career progressed, he became a vocal critic of Modernism, expressing dismay at the way machinery had replaced the horse. According to Lorain Peralta-Ramos, author of his catalogue raisonné, Munnings was “heartbroken” to see rural tradition overtaken by modern life. His works, infused with nostalgia and vitality, reflect a desire for simpler times – a recurring theme throughout his output.
In 1944, Munnings was elected President of the Royal Academy, a position he held until 1949. He spent the last four decades of his life at Castle House in Dedham, Suffolk, with his second wife Violet McBride. The house is now the Munnings Museum, home to the largest collection of his works and an enduring testament to his life and legacy.
SIR ALFRED J. MUNNINGS, P.R.A. (1878-1959)
The Norwich Staghounds' Point-to-Point, 1902
signed and dated 'A. J Munnings, 1902' (lower right)
Estimate £70,000 - £100,000
The present example, offered in our Old Masters and 19th Century Art and Works on Paper Sale on 1 May 2024, comes from a private UK collection. It exemplifies Munnings’ skill at portraying horses with vitality and authenticity. The fluid brushwork and airy composition suggest the work was painted en plein air, lending immediacy to the scene. With an impressionistic palette and spontaneous energy, Munnings captures both the elegance and power of the subject matter – a hallmark of his most celebrated work.
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