John corbet is shown in the centre of the composition, with his huntsman, will barrow, and a hunt servant at the gate. John corbet of sundorne castle took up the role of master of the warwickshire hunt in 1791. He was known as ‘father of the trojans’, a reference to the famous hound in his pack, who is said to be the leading dog in the picture. In 1811 he was succeeded in the mastership by the 6th lord middleton, who paid 1,200 guineas for the pack. The fact that the picture is dated 1812 and was in the collection of lord middleton may imply that it was commissioned as a portrait to commemorate courbet’s association with the hunt. Date: 1812.
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