Over the Fence

Oil on canvas, signed

25.5 x 30.8 cms
10 x 12 1/8 inches

John Nott was the most prolific and best-known member of the large and talented Sartorius family of painters. He was the son of Francis Sartorius and the grandson of John Sartorius. In order to be distinguished from his elders, he referred to himself in painting catalogues as ‘J. N. Sartorius junior.’ John Nott’s brother was the marine painter, Francis.

John Nott concentrated his efforts on horses, but the occasional dog or cattle picture does turn up and he exhibited a number of fruit still-lifes as well. His horse paintings range from portraiture to hunting and racing scenes. His style is more advanced than that of his father or grandfather, yet he still retains an old-fashioned quality, even bordering on the naive at times. His compositions, especially among his hunting paintings, are excellent and quite engaging. The Prince of Wales, the Earl of Derby, Lord Foley, and Christopher Wilson were among his patrons. Some of his work was also published in The Sporting Magazine.

He exhibited thirty-one paintings at the Free Society between 1776 and 1783 and sevent-eight paintings with the Royal Academy between 1781 and 1824. Titles of these include: “Dorimant beating Shark and other Horses”, “A Famous Horse called Trentham”, “Unkenelling the Hounds” and “Horses, Grooms and Dogs”. Paintings were always sent from a London addresses; however, he is reported to have lived at an inn at Carshalton, Surrey.

Bibliography:
The Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists, Sally Mitchell
A Dictionary of British Landscape Painters – M H Grant
The Dictionary of 18th Century British Painters – Ellis Waterhouse
British Sporting Artists - W Shaw Sparrow