Alfred Munnings Paintings for Sale1878-1959

Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878–1959) was one of Britain’s most celebrated equestrian painters, renowned for his vivid depictions of horses in hunting, racing, and military settings. Yet, some of his most heartfelt and nostalgic works focus on the farm horses of rural England—sturdy Suffolk Punches and Shires that toiled in the fields and farmyards of his youth.

Born in the village of Mendham, Suffolk, Munnings grew up surrounded by the rhythms of country life. From an early age, he was captivated by the power and grace of working horses, sketching them as they plowed fields, pulled carts, or stood idly in the farmyard after a long day’s labor. Despite losing sight in one eye at 20, he pursued his artistic calling with determination, studying at the Norwich School of Art and working as a lithographer before launching his career as a painter.

Munnings' paintings of farm horses are rich in atmosphere, capturing the golden light of late afternoons in the countryside, the dusty warmth of a stable, or the quiet dignity of a horse being shod. Works like The Red Team, depicting a trio of Suffolk Punches, and Shoeing a Bay Mare, an intimate study of a farrier at work, showcase his ability to bring out both the physical strength and gentle nature of these animals.

While he later became famous for painting racehorses and aristocratic commissions, Munnings never lost his love for the working horses of his childhood. His art stands as a tribute to a vanishing way of life, preserving the bond between farmer and horse before machines took their place.

Knighted in 1944 and serving as President of the Royal Academy of Arts, Munnings remained a passionate advocate for traditional painting. He passed away in 1959, but his legacy lives on, particularly in his moving portrayals of the farm horses that shaped his artistic vision. Today, his work can be admired at the Munnings Art Museum in Dedham, where his love for the English countryside and its horses endures.