Important Quorn Hunt Sporting Watercolour by Basil Nightingale - Signed 1895

Basil Nightingale Quorn Hunt Watercolour Painting, Believed Tom Firr, Signed 1895 “Hare Seeds Gentlemen! Hare Seeds — With The Quorn Hunt” Important Victorian Sporting Watercolour by Basil Nightingale Believed to Depict the Celebrated Quorn Huntsman Tom Firr on a Grey Hunter An exceptional late Victorian sporting watercolour by British sporting artist Basil Nightingale, signed and dated 1895, depicting a mounted huntsman of the famous **Quorn Hunt**, widely regarded as England's premier fox hunting establishment. Believed to portray the legendary Quorn huntsman **Tom Firr (1847–1910)** mounted upon a grey hunter, this large-scale equestrian painting combines historical sporting interest, outstanding horse portraiture, and strong decorative presence. Works relating to the Quorn Hunt, Leicestershire hunting country, and documented Victorian huntsmen remain highly sought after amongst collectors of British sporting art, fox hunting paintings, equestrian art, and country house antiques. Subject & Medium: Watercolour, gouache and bodycolour heightened with white on paper. Inscribed upper right: "Hare Seeds Gentleman! Hare Seeds!" (With the Quorn — a sketch from memory) This finely executed Victorian sporting scene depicts the professional huntsman of the Quorn Hunt sounding his hunting horn whilst mounted on a powerful grey horse. The inscription records a traditional hunting cry used when hounds momentarily take up the scent of a hare rather than their intended fox. Executed with remarkable technical confidence, the work demonstrates Basil Nightingale's mastery of sporting subjects, combining luminous watercolour washes with opaque bodycolour highlights to achieve depth, atmosphere, and exceptional realism. Sporting & Historical Interest: Founded in 1696, the Quorn Hunt is considered one of the most famous fox hunts in British history. By the date of this painting, 1895, the hunt was enjoying one of its most celebrated periods under the Mastership of the 6th Duke of Rutland. The rider is traditionally believed to represent Tom Firr, one of the most respected professional huntsmen of the Victorian era. While no documentary evidence accompanies the painting confirming the identification, the attribution has long accompanied the work and is offered as a professional opinion rather than a statement of fact. Regardless of the identification, the painting captures an authentic moment within late Victorian hunting culture and represents a rare surviving record of the social and sporting traditions associated with the Quorn country of Leicestershire. About the Artist: Basil Nightingale was a respected British painter and illustrator specialising in sporting, military, and equestrian subjects. His professional career included: • Contributions to *The Graphic* • Contributions to *The Illustrated London News* • Exhibition at leading London institutions including the Royal Academy Today his works remain particularly desirable amongst collectors of British sporting paintings, hunting art, military art, horse paintings, and Victorian watercolours. Signed: Signed and dated lower right: Basil Nightingale, 1895 A fully signed and dated example from the artist's mature period. Provenance: • Private Collection, United Kingdom • Mellors & Kirk Fine Art, Antiques & Collectors Sale, Nottingham, December 2025 • Eastern Shire Antiques Dealers Collection • Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD • Privately Loaned and Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum An impressive near-metre-wide presentation offering substantial visual impact for a country house, library, sporting room, study, or equestrian collection. Keywords: Basil Nightingale, Quorn Hunt, Tom Firr, Sporting Art, Fox Hunting Painting, Victorian Watercolour, Equestrian Art, Horse Painting, English Sporting Picture, Hunting Scene, Leicestershire Hunt, Country House Art, British Sporting Artist, Antique Watercolour, Grey Hunter.