Old Trodgon, a Fighting Cock

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Nothing is known of the early provenance of this painting. However, in the mid-20th-century it was owned by publisher and printer Walter Hutchinson. Hutchinson formed a substantial collection of sporting paintings and, in 1949, founded the National Gallery of British Sports and Pastimes. The gallery was located at Derby House (renamed Hutchinson House) in Stratford Place, off Oxford Street. Hutchinson was somewhat presumptuous in calling it a ‘National Gallery’ for it was never presented to the nation and, following his death (a year after the gallery had opened) the collection was dispersed.

The catalogue of the National Gallery of British Sports and Pastimes describes the 'Old Trodgon' as 'A prominent fighting cock and prize winner 1780-1787.'

Places

Subjects

cockfighting, sport, landscape C18th, chicken, cock, hill

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Robert Hodgson

Title

Old Trodgon, a Fighting Cock

Date

c.1790

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 77.00 cm, width: 64.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Oscar & Peter Johnson, October 1977

Inscription

sbr&instl

Provenance

Hutchinson House Collection [collection of publisher and printer Walter Hutchinson (1887-1950)]; sold by the order of Messrs. Hutchinson & Co Limited through Christie's, London, 'The Second Portion of the Hutchinson Collection of Important Sporting Pictures' sale, on 14 December 1951 (Lot 151; with GAC 13513), for £68.5.0; from which sale purchased by explorer and blockade runner Sir (Frederick) George Binney (1900-1972) of Domaine des Vaux, Haut de la Vallée, St Lawrence, Jersey; with O & P Johnson, London; from whom purchased by the Ministry of Works in October 1977

GAC number

13513