Commissioned from the artist by Henry Combe Compton (1789-1855), Minstead Manor, Hampshire;
Thence by direct descent.

 Major G. Paget, The Melton Mowbray of John Ferneley 1782-1860. The Account books of John Ferneley, Leicester 1931, no. 28, p. 127 (as "Two Picture's with Portraits of horses, Hounds etc. - 31.10.0").

The painting is more muted intone and more yellow in colour than the catalogue illustration would suggest. The canvas has been relined and the paint surface is in good overall condition with no apparent damage or loss of paint except for an old horizontal crack measuring approx. 7 in.directly above the right most huntsman which is visible under a raking light. There is also retouching to a very minor old repaired knock upper centre above the horses head measuting approx. 1/4 in. The paint is also abit thin in the background and there are some old discoloured retouchings there. Otherwise the paint surface is in good country house condition. Examination under ultraviolet reveals a thick discoloured varnish and old retouching to the aforementioned areas. There is also some very minor cosmetic scattered retouching to the peripheral areas. Offered in a gilt wood and plaster frame in good overall condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Henry Combe Compton was the son of John Compton (1750-1803) of Minstead Manor, Lyndhurst and his wife Catherine (1770 - 1805), daughter of the Reverend John Richards. John served as High Sheriff of Hampshire in 1797 and as Master of the New Forest Hounds between 1800 and 1803. This love of hunting was evidently inherited by their son pictured in the field here and in the following lot (lot 257) having been instilled in him from an early age. Evidence of this can be seen in a picture painted in 1799 by Thomas Gooch (sold in these rooms, 10 December 2009, lot 234) depicting the Compton family hunters which includes a small horse belonging to Henry who would have been aged ten at the time. Henry Combe Compton (1789-1855), following in his father's footsteps, served as High Sheriff of Hampshire in 1819 before becoming M.P. for South Hampshire which he served from 1835 to 1857. In 1810 he married Charlotte, second daughter of the M.P. William Mills who had, in 1792 purchased the Estate of Bisterne from Henry’s father. Painted in 1813, these charming pictures are early examples of Ferneley’s work and they show the clear influence of  Benjamin Marshall under whom he had trained.