William Osborne, RHA (Irish, 1823-1901)
Equestrian portrait of Sarah Conolly of Castletown, mounted side saddle on a light bay hunter in a landscape
Oil on canvas
112 x 133cm (44 1/16 x 52 3/8in).
Footnotes:
Provenance:
Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 10 April 1992, lot 82.
With Frost and Reed Ltd., London, no. 57637.

Sarah Eliza Shaw, the daughter of a Celbridge paper miller, married Thomas Conolly in 1869. Their spectacular wedding in Bray was much commented upon in the newspapers of the day and involved no less than three receptions and two parades. It is possible that the mountain range and tower depicted below the horse's head may be the Hill of Allen, a volcanic hill situated in the west of County Kildare.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP
TP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.

The canvas has been lined and provides a stable support, although slightly baggy to the canvas. There are minor traces of surface cracking, paint separation and remnants of stretcher bar marks. There are two small losses in the lower left, below the hoof, and some minor paint lifting. Examination under UV reveals a small area of restoration lower left, some infilling to areas of separation, a few scattered spots elsewhere, as well as a wash of overpaint to the sky.