Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. (1878–1959)

Munnings produced portrait studies throughout his life, often putting several poses on a single panel. The sitter's dress and hairstyle suggest a date in the 1940s. In that decade Munnings made a number of paintings of racehorses being exercised by young grooms, both male and female, on the Newmarket Gallops. Some of the stable girls have similar hairstyles and are shown in similar postures to Yvonne Adams. Yvonne seems to be posing on a wooden ‘horse’ in Munnings’s studio, so perhaps an equestrian portrait or a sketch for a racing scene was intended. Yvonne Adams was the daughter of Alfred Gates, owner of Arthur Ackermanns of Old Bond Street, the venerable dealer in sporting art. Yvonne became an expert in Meissen porcelain.

We are grateful to Lorian Peralta-Ramos for her assistance in preparing this catalogue entry. This work will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the works of Sir Alfred Munnings