Alfred Reginald Thomson (1894-1979)

The XIV Olympiad in London in 1948 placed great emphasis on both sport and the arts as platforms for competition and excellence. The present lot and lot 157 were both entered in the Paintings section of the Olympiad and were exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Apart from Painting, medals were awarded in the following categories: Architecture, Graphic Arts, Sculpture, Craft and Art Applique, Literature and Music. Works submitted under each category were required to have a sporting theme.
Thomson's painting was awarded a Gold Medal for Painting at the 1948 Olympiad, making Thomson the last artist to receive a medal for Art at the Olympics - the practice was abandoned after 1948.

Walter Hutchinson, who owned the painting, was the founder of the National Gallery of British Sports and Pastimes.