Lionel Ellis Attributed Equestrian Oil Painting The Horse British c.1950–60

Lionel Ellis Attributed Equestrian Oil Painting The Horse British c.1950–60 A fine mid-20th-century British horse portrait retaining extensive handwritten provenance, including a historic record of its reported purchase directly from the artist in 1974. Highlights - Attributed to Lionel Ellis (1903–1988) - British, circa 1950–1960 - Oil on canvas - Equestrian / sporting subject - Mature chestnut or reddish-bay hunter-type horse - Traditional timber stable setting - Modern British stylistic qualities - Inscribed verso with the title The Horse - Lionel Ellis named in the historic stretcher inscription - Reportedly purchased from the artist by V. H. Cooper, 1974 - Subsequent ownership documented in 2012 - Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers - Privately loaned and exhibited with The Famous Lord Hill Museum in 2026 - Substantial gilt frame Introduction A fine British equestrian oil painting attributed to Lionel Ellis (1903–1988), depicting a mature chestnut or reddish-bay horse standing within a traditional timber stable. Dating to approximately 1950–1960, the painting combines the enduring British tradition of sporting and equestrian art with the simplified forms and restrained tonal approach associated with twentieth-century figurative painting. The work is particularly notable for its extensive provenance inscriptions, which identify the painting as The Horse by Lionel Ellis and record its reported acquisition directly from the artist by V. H. Cooper in 1974. Catalogue Details Artist: Attributed to Lionel Ellis (1903–1988) Title: The Horse Date: Circa 1950–1960 School: British Medium: Oil on canvas Subject: Mature chestnut or reddish-bay hunter-type horse Signature: No clearly visible signature presently identified on the painted surface Frame: Gilt frame Catalogue Note The horse is presented in profile against a backdrop of weathered timber doors and stable architecture. Warm chestnut colouring distinguishes the animal from the subdued earth tones of the surroundings. The handling is comparatively broad and economical, avoiding the highly detailed finish associated with much earlier sporting portraiture. Strong vertical and horizontal elements within the stable provide the composition with an effective structural framework. The Horse and Stable Setting The animal is best described as a mature hunter-type riding horse of chestnut or reddish-bay colouring. It is clearly an adult animal. Its sex cannot reliably be determined from the painting, and neither its exact breed nor individual identity has presently been established. The location of the stable also remains unknown. Dating the Painting The circa 1950–1960 dating is based upon stylistic and comparative analysis. The inscription recording purchase from Lionel Ellis in 1974 provides an important chronological reference. If accurate, it confirms that the painting existed by that year. Modern British Context The simplified architecture, reduced descriptive detail and broad tonal treatment introduce distinctly Modern British qualities to a traditional equestrian subject. The work is consequently described as a figurative Modern British equestrian painting with modernist characteristics. The Artist Lionel Ellis (1903–1988) was a British painter, printmaker and teacher. Born in Plymouth, he trained at Plymouth School of Art and the Royal College of Art and undertook further artistic study in Paris and Italy. Ellis later taught painting at Wimbledon School of Art from 1937 until 1968. His work encompasses portraiture, landscape, flowers, figures and equestrian subjects and is represented within British institutional collections. The Verso Inscription and Documentary Evidence The principal inscription reads: “THE HORSE BY LIONEL ELLIS PURCHASED FROM THE ARTIST BY V. H. COOPER 1974.” Further writing records the purchase of the work by D. Cowill from Mrs P. M. Cooper on May 30, 2012. A subsequent dedication records its presentation to Steven for his 52nd birthday on June 19, 2012. The direct purchase from Lionel Ellis is recorded according to the historic stretcher inscription. No independent transaction document has presently been located, and the painting is therefore catalogued as Attributed to Lionel Ellis. Provenance V. H. Cooper; reportedly purchased directly from Lionel Ellis in 1974, according to inscription. Mrs P. M. Cooper. D. Cowill; purchased from Mrs P. M. Cooper, May 30, 2012. Presented to Steven by his parents, June 19, 2012. Private collection, United Kingdom. Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers, Devon. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, 2026. Exhibition History The Famous Lord Hill Museum; privately loaned and exhibited, late September–October 1, 2026. Dimensions Canvas: 51 × 41 cm / approximately 20.1 × 16.1 inches. Framed: 64.5 × 54 × 4.7 cm / approximately 25.4 × 21.3 × 1.85 inches. Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution The painting will be accompanied by a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording its attribution, catalogue details, stated provenance and exhibition history. Attribution and Research The attribution, dating and historical commentary represent professional scholarly assessments based upon the evidence presently available. They are not guarantees of authorship, date or provenance, and future research may refine the present conclusions. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art. Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.