The Sir Hercules Colt c1867
Pencil and watercolour
18.5 x 25.3 cm
Signed W. Stuart and inscribed with title
Provenance: Wittenborn Art Books, New York; Edward & John Barkes
Exhibited: Early Australian Watercolours and Drawings, Bridget McDonnell Gallery, 1987, no. 27, illustrated cover
The Irish born Stuart came to Australia in 1862 as a 19 year old and went to Burrandowan station, near Kingaroy, Queensland. He was a natural, fearless horseman who “took to the bush, with high spirits and a reckless love of adventure.' With the manager’s son, William Parry-Okeden, he set off “droving, mustering, breaking horses, from the Darling Downs up as far as the head of Dawson waters”. They were life-long friends who “hunted wild horses on the Bunya Mountains and wrote lively ballads.” (ADB).
Stuart, an enthusiastic visionary, bought properties and established pastoral companies in Queensland. He later went into mining in Western Australia and Tasmania
A talented artist, four sketchbooks of his drawings are in the collection of the National Library of Australia. An obituary for Stuart appeared in The Brisbane Courier, 16th January, 1914
In 1867 The Sir Hercules Colt, recorded the fastest time for a three mile race this side of the equator. It was taken to Brisbane in January, 1867
Read obituary for Richard Wingfield Stuart from The Brisbane Courier, Friday 16 January 1914, page 9
Item #3520
Price: $14,000.00