Basil Nightingale was the youngest son of the highly regarded animal painter Robert Nightingale 1815-1895, who exhibited at the RA. Basil Nightingale was a sporting painter in both oil, pastel and watercolour. He worked near Melton Mowbray for some time when this piece was created and was involved with the Quorn hunt. In 1902 he moved to Leamington in Warwickshire. He was an excellent sportsman and a courageous rider to hounds. A fine artist who painted with humour, always making his subject the most important feature. The backgrounds where normally painted in grey or brown washes to complement his subject, but they rarely intrude as can be seen here. Favoured by the aristocracy his works have always been commercial, desirable and collected.