James Ward, R.A. (London 1769-1859 Cheshunt)

John Allnut (1773-1863) was a merchant banker and wine-seller, and a patron of Sir Thomas Lawrence and James Ward. He commissioned Ward to paint his horses, and the picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1823. The present drawing was part of a group of albums assembled by Allnut circa 1850, from which over fifty drawings were sold in these Rooms, 17 November 1987. It compares closely with Ward’s 1808 Royal Academy exhibition entry (no. 210), now at Tate Britain, and is probably a preparatory study for that work.