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Ninetta ButterworthRacehorse portrait with vignettes
$1,364.96
£1,000
€1,176.46
CA$1,900.65
A$2,042.44
CHF 1,095.89
MX$24,058.73
NOK 13,779.59
SEK 12,587.57
DKK 8,792.42
About the Item
Ninetta Butterworth was a British artist best known for her refined equestrian paintings, particularly portraits of horses associated with racing, hunting, and polo. Active mainly in the mid–twentieth century, she worked within a long British tradition of sporting art, yet brought to it a notably modern sense of clarity, elegance, and compositional restraint. Butterworth developed a strong reputation for her ability to capture not only the physical likeness of horses but also their temperament, training, and athletic purpose.
Her work suggests close familiarity with the equestrian world. Rather than treating horses as generic types, she portrayed them as individual subjects, often identifiable by their tack, posture, and context of performance. Butterworth’s paintings were popular with private patrons, owners, and sporting enthusiasts, and her style balances realism with an almost illustrative refinement, favouring smooth surfaces, controlled brushwork, and harmonious colour.
The painting shown here is a characteristic and accomplished example of her work. At its centre is a large, dignified head-and-neck portrait of a chestnut horse, presented against a soft, atmospheric background. The horse’s ears are alert, its eye calm and intelligent, and its bridle carefully detailed, with a pale noseband providing a gentle contrast to the warm tones of the coat. The scale of the central portrait gives the animal a sense of importance and presence, elevating it beyond a mere study to the status of a formal likeness.
Surrounding this dominant image are smaller vignettes that narrate the horse’s life in action. In the upper corners, riders are shown mounted during polo play, mallet raised mid-swing, capturing moments of speed, balance, and control. Below, another scene shows two riders galloping along a shoreline, suggesting training, leisure, or conditioning. These subsidiary scenes function almost like memories or achievements, framing the central portrait as a summary of the horse’s career and character.
Butterworth’s use of space is particularly effective. The softly blended background allows the horse’s head to emerge almost sculpturally, while the smaller scenes float lightly around it, unified by consistent light and tone. There is no clutter, no unnecessary detail; every element serves either likeness or narrative. The overall effect is one of calm authority and affectionate respect.
Taken together, the painting exemplifies Ninetta Butterworth’s strengths as an equestrian artist: precise observation, compositional intelligence, and a deep understanding of the bond between horse and rider. It stands as both a portrait and a tribute, celebrating the grace, discipline, and athletic beauty at the heart of British sporting life.
Canvas size:
49.5 x 59.5 cm
Signed of the bottom right:
Ninetta Butterworth
- Creator:Ninetta Butterworth (1922 - 2010, British)
- Dimensions:Height: 23.23 in (59 cm)Width: 27.17 in (69 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 1151stDibs: LU2841217468142
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