John Ferneley Paintings

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Biography of John Ferneley

British equine artist

Born at Thrussington in Leicestershire, the son of a wheelwright, John Ferneley was first apprenticed to his father's trade. His artistic talent was soon recognised by the Duke of Rutland, who admired some of his pictures which adorned a cart on which his father was working. In 1803, at the instigation of the Duke of Rutland, Ferneley was sent to London to study with the successful sporting painter Benjamin Marshall; John Ferneley also enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1806 to 1853.

From 1804, John Ferneley travelled extensively around England, visiting Dover (to paint the Leicestershire militia), Norfolk and Lincoln. In 1808 John Ferneley went to Ireland, where John Ferneley returned annually between 1810 and 1812, painting many pictures for the Irish gentry.

Ferneley spent the rest of his life at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, where John Ferneley built a studio and house named Elgin Lodge. His reputation earned him the patronage and friendship of many Meltonians and members of the aristocracy. Ferneley was patronised by some of the most fashionable figures of the day, including Beau Brummel and Count d'Orsay.

He is one of the great British equine artists, perhaps only second to Stubbs in terms of raw ability. Ferneley originally worked with his father, until by chance the Duke of Rutland saw some of his painting on the side of a cart on which Ferneley and his father had been working. The Duke was so impressed with Ferneley John Ferneley persuaded the lad's father to allow him to be tutored.

A sum of £200 was paid to an artist, Benjamin Marshall, for three years, but it is not clear who paid the sum. Ferneley was so talented that apparently John Ferneley produced almost perfect copies of his tutor's paintings. In 1804 John Ferneley paid a man named Thomas Harrison to undertake his compulsory army service - a practice that was commonplace at the time. It was ironic that his first commission then came from the Leicestershire militia.

Thereafter John Ferneley received widespread commissions and his reputation grew. Between 1808 and 1811 John Ferneley made frequent trips to Ireland, where John Ferneley painted pictures for the gentry. His best work was painted in the period of 1810 to 1850, when John Ferneley displayed his full repertoire of hunting, racing and horse scenes.