S.E. Kennedy, by 1917
Sir Mortimer Singer KBE
(sold: Christie's London, February 21, 1930, lot 130)
Knoedler & Co. New York
Mrs🗹. Payne Whitney thence by descent to John Hay Whitney

A. Noakes, Benjamin Marshall 1768-1835, 1978, p.41, no.107

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has been quite recently restored and should be hung as is. The canvas has been lined using glue as an adhesive. The paint layer is stable and in generally healthy state. The horse and rider are very well preserved. With Marshall's works the slightly rough painting in the background is particularly typical and there is thinness and some loss which has been retouched between the brick building on the left and the horse. There are small retouches in the brick building, in the landscape and also in a few spots in the sky. Overall the condition is very respectable with no structural damage, the area behind the horse being the most notable isolated area of loss. Overall the picture is in good condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

In this painting, Benjamin Marshall immortalizes the most eagerly sought-after and highly-prized combination: the hugely talented jockey Sam Chifney and the extraordinarily successful racehorse Burleigh. Continuing the tradition of earlier paintings by George Stubbs, Marshall places the duo alongside the distinctive ru𓆏bbing down house at Newmarket, and 🌜completely removed from all other related race day associations.

Burleigh was a chestnut colt foaled in 1805 by Stamford out of Mercury. He was bred and raced by Henry Vansittart of Foxley, Berkshire and Kirkleatham Hall, North Yorkshire. Between 1808 and 1811 Burleigh won an astonishing 17 races at Newmarket, including the  Jockey Club Plate. Sam Chi✨fney Jnr. (1786-1854) was one of the most skilful jockeys of the day: f🐼ive-time winner of the Oaks and twice of the Derby.

Henry Vansittart (d. 1848), was the grandson of Henry Vansittart (1732-1770) of the East India Company and one-time Governor of Bengal. He was nephew to Nicholas Vansittart, Baron Bexley (1766-1851) Chancellor of the  Exchequer at the end of the Napoleo🎐nic Wars. Vansittart had married the widow of Sir Charles Turner of Kirkleatham Hall, who had inhe🌠rited the estate.