JOHN VINE OF COLCHESTER (BRITISH, 1809-1867)

The Royal Smithfield Club was founded in 1798 to encourage the breeding and showing of livestock. Moving to the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington in 1868, it held annual shows every December of livestock from across the country. Two of the sheep depicted in this work are almost certainly the two Leicester sheep exhibited by the 11th Lord Berners at the 1868 show for which he won two first prizes; the inscription and rosettes, to the second work, celebrating the occasion. Such was Lord Berner's agricultural prowess it is said he arrived at a dinner of the Leicestershire Agricultural Society wearing a coat made from the wool of one of his sheep, sheared that very morning.