Vanity Fair Caricature “The Winning Post”

Vanity Fair Caricature “The Winning Post”
By 'Lib' (Liborio Prosperi, 1854-1928)
Original Double Page Chromolithograph
Printed on wove paper as issued
Published in "Vanity Fair" by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son Ltd
London, December 8, 1888

Framed and glazed

Measures:-
59 cm x 64.5 cm (framed)

Caricature of a g of jockeys and on horseback: John Osborne, Tom Cannon, John Watts, Fred Webb, Fred Barrett, George Barrett, William "Jack" Robinson and Fred Rickaby. Together with Judge Clark and Sir John Astley, Bart.

This Vanity Fair caricature probably depicts the climax of an imaginary race at Newmarket. Sir John 'The Mate' Astley, Bart. (1828-1894) was a Steward of The Jockey Club who, having been educated at Eton and sent-down from Oxford, had an illustrious military career before devoting his time to horseracing. He was responsible for the development of the new stand at the end of the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. 'Judge' John Francis Clark (1816-1898) was an invigilator at race-meetings and also an architect responsible for various sporting stands. The jockeys listed represent a group of the leading jockeys of the day. Many of the subjects appear in other Vanity Fair illustrations.

Wonderfully authentic tone for an original edition of this late Victorian print with some fading and yellowing.