John Nott (Nost) Sartorius, came from a long line of sporting artists. His grandfather was the equestrian and sporting artist John Sartorius (1700- circa 1780) as was his father, Francis Sartorius (1734-1804), his son John Francis Sartorius continuing the tradition. John Nott’s other son, Francis Sartorius Jr. became a painter in the marine tradition. Trained by his family, John Nott Sartorius painted primarily equine, horse-racing, and hunting scenes as well as portraits of animals.
John Nott was and is still seen as the most prominent and accomplished of the Sartorius family of painters. His paintings, which still have the slight naïve quality of his father and grandfather, are more developed with his compositions quite pleasing and his hunting scenes full of lively interest. He is particularly well known for his depictions of the Quorn and Belvoir hunts. John Nott was supported by the top sporting patrons of his time including The Prince of Wales, Lord Foley, the Earl of Derby, Sir Charles Bunbury, Charles James Fox, and Christopher Wilson. Several of his pieces were used to illustrate The Sporting Magazine from 1795 to 1827, and nearly fifty his paintings became engravings for wider distribution. He exhibited at the Society of Artists and Free Society from 1776-83 and at the Royal Academy from 1781-1824 (where he was listed as John N. Sartorius Junior). Some of his best-known pictures are portraits of the racehorse Escape, belonging to the Prince of Wales, Sir Charles Bunbury's horse Grey Diomed, Mr. Robson's trotting mare Phenomena, and the famous racehorse Eclipse, from a drawing by his father. To be closer to the sporting community that were his subjects he often spent time in Carshalton in Surrey and worked frequently out of Newmarket. However, he maintained a London address as his listed studio, for marketing purposes. His work can be found throughout the United Kingdom in many sporting collections and country houses.
John Nott Sartorius (English 1759-1828)
Baronet Winning Over Coriander at Newmarket October 5, 1791
oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right "J N Sartorius 1791", likely depicting Samuel "Sam" Chifney on Baronet in the lead.
Based on our research, this rare painting likely depicts the October 5, 1791 Newmarket race where Baronet, owned by the Prince of Wales (George IV), won over Coriander and Cardock. The Prince’s jockey, Samuel Chifney, is wearing the royal colours. This is one of the final races in which the Prince of Wales participated, as the following year in Newmarket he was censured by the Jockey Club due to the conduct of his jockey Samuel Chifney. The Prince refused to dismiss Chifney and instead retired from the turf.
Baronet, a bay colt by Vertumnus out of Penultima by Snap, was foaled in 1785, bred by Lord Sherborne, and sold to Sir Walter Vavasour and then to the Prince of Wales. Baronet began racing in 1789 with his best year being 1791 when he ran undefeated and the Prince winning considerably with his bets. Baronet won in the Oatland Stakes at Ascot Heath June 28, 1791 (Baronet over Escape or Express and Chanticleer) with a 2000 guinea prize, as well as winning a series of four-mile heats; the Majesty’s Plate at Windsor July 19, 1791 (walked over); Lewes August 4, 1791 (Baronet over Cardock); King’s Plate at Canterbury August 24, 1791; and at Newmarket October 5, 1791 (Baronet over Coriander and Cardock), most likely the subject of this painting.
Charles II created the earliest national racing rules and inaugurated races where prizes were awarded to the winners. The historic Newmarket race was instigated by King Charles II in 1666, who in 1671 became the first and only reigning monarch to win, and established Newmarket as the headquarters of English racing. The course is over 3 mile 6 furlongs of the Newmarket Round Course, only used once a year for this race. Once one of the most prestigious races in Britain, the race is still held and is described by the Newmarket Jockey Club as “...a pinnacle of glorious historical eccentricity, competed for by true amateurs and boasting a jockeys’ prize of a Perpetual Challenge Plate; a photo frame; a voucher from the Newmarket High Street clothes shop Golding; and a box of Powters Celebrated Newmarket Sausages.”
Size: 28 ¼ h x 36 w (with frame 34" x 42")
ZJ20058