Name/Title
Equine Portrait of Mare and FoalEntry/Object ID
1972.104.1Description
Oil on canvas equine portrait of an adult horse and a foal. Both horses are brown with black hair, and the adult horse has black legs. The foal appears to be eating from a shrub. The background is a landscape containing hills and two nearby trees.Type of Painting
EaselContext
Wade Hampton II (1791–1858) was a distinguished horse breeder with an impressive collection of horses, many of which were painted by the renowned equine portrait artist Edward Troye (1808–1874). In this painting by Troye, two of Hampton’s horses are featured: a foal—or a baby horse—and a mare—an adult female horse. The young foal in the portrait emphasizes the mare's role as a broodmare, highlighting her value in breeding over racing.
In 1840, Hampton commissioned Troye to paint some of his horses, including two mares and their foals. One pairing featured Maria West and her foal, Chicora (later known as Margaret Wood), while the other depicted Bay Maria and her foal, Cornelia. Research is ongoing as to identifying the mare and foal in this portrait
The artist, Edward Troye, was born in Switzerland and, after living in the West Indies for a time, emigrated to the United States where he settled primarily in Kentucky. In 1836, Hampton invited Troye to Millwood Plantation where he painted two of Hampton’s new horses, Pocahontas—purchased from Colonel Richard Singleton (1776–1852)—and Argyle—purchased from Colonel Pierce Butler (1798–1847). In the years to follow, Hampton commissioned the artist to produce similar paintings of his other horses—including Maria West in 1840 and Fannie in 1844. According to descendants, Hampton hung the portraits of his horses in the entryway of Millwood. Hampton’s ability to commission portraits of his horses was a conspicuous indicator of his wealth and status.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Edward TroyeRole
PainterDate made
1840Place
Location
Millwood Plantation, Richland County, South CarolinaCity
Columbia, South CarolinaNotes
Edward TroyeDimensions
Height
30-3/4 inWidth
35-1/2 inRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Wade Hampton IIRelated Places
Place
Location
Millwood Plantation, Richland County, South CarolinaCity
Columbia, South Carolina
