To Richard Hill Esqr. of Thornton This Portrait of John Booth is Respectfully Dedicated by his Obedient and obliged humble Servant Robert Sunter.

Artist:

John E. Ferneley (1782-1860)

Ferrneley was an English painter who specialised in portraying sporting horses and hunting scenes. He is regarded as one of the great British equine artists, second perhaps only to George Stubbs. His work was exhibited between 1806 and 1853 at the Royal Academy. He travelled extensively in Ireland from 1806 to 1809, but returned to England to marry, and started working from Melton Mowbray. Here he built his studio and later a house, Elgin Lodge, on the Scalford Rd.