Mr Walsh's Perdita, with jockey up, on Nantwich Racecourse
Benjamin Killingbeck, 1781

Benjamin Killingbeck was a respected English artist who specialised in painting horses, particularly racehorses, and dogs. The painting depicts the horse and jockey in great detail with additional horses and spectators in the background. Perdita caused quite a stir at Nantwich racecourse when she won the Noblemen and GentlemenÂ’s purse of £50 on 10 July 1781. It was PerditaÂ’s only ever win. Nantwich racecourse no longer exists and many people are unaware that the town ever had a racecourse. This is the first painting of the racecourse to enter the collection and previously the museum only had a photographic print of this work to reflect this part of Nantwich's history .
More information
Title of artwork, date
Mr Walsh's Perdita, with jockey up, on Nantwich Racecourse, 1781
Date supported
2009
Medium and material
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
61.6 x 74.9 cm
Grant
1797
Total cost
7725

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