Code: 6100
Dimensions:
A beautiful signed and dated 1855 French oil on board depicting jockeys in a weighing room, by Jean-Maxime Claude. A jockey sits in the foreground with his arm in a sling, whilst more jockeys and owners use the weighing scales behind him.
The artist specialised in painting horse racing scenes and this is a rare and particularly interesting subject. The work was exhibited at the exhibition Les Courses en France (Horse Racing in France), which was held at the Maisons-Laffitte race course in 1923. Please see catalogue excerpts attached.
Signed and dated lower right and presented in a fine 19th century gilt frame with swept corners. Original exhibition label on the reverse.
Artist: Jean-Maxime Claude (French, 1824-1904)
Title: Au Pesage (The Weighing)
Medium: Oil on board
Size: 20.5 x 17.5 inches (52 x 44.5 cm) including the frame
Jean-Maxime Claude was born in Paris and began his studies with Pierre Victor Galland. He first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1861 and was awarded medals at the Salons of 1866, 1869 and 1872.
The artist’s principal subjects included horse racing and riding; along with hunting, landscapes and marines. Although he moved to England from Paris at an unknown date, he continued to send works to exhibit in Paris.
Seven paintings by Claude were included in the Exposition Universelle in 1900. He was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur.
Museum Collections:
Musée Condé, Chantilly
Musée Magnin, Dijon
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Saint-Denis
National Museum, Stockholm
National Trust, Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire
