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

Point-to-Points are informal horse races organised by the local hunt which arose from the tradition of steeplechases from village to village. Munnings held a deep appreciation for countryside traditions and pastimes and his early works, in particular, are a celebration of rural life.

Point-to-Point race meetings with their gatherings of riders and spectators allowed the young artist to capture the hustle and bustle of the crowd and the atmosphere of anticipation. The present work was probably painted at the Swardeston meet in Norfolk which features in a number of comparable pictures from this period.

We are grateful to the Curatorial staff at The Munnings Art Museum, and Lorian Peralta-Ramos for their assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.