Colonel Smith Grasping the Hind Legs of a Stag thumbnail 1
Colonel Smith Grasping the Hind Legs of a Stag thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 57

Colonel Smith Grasping the Hind Legs of a Stag

Oil Painting
1640-1680 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Wealthy families in the 17th century frequently commissioned paintings to commemorate the courage or nobility of an ancestor. This one is unusual as it shows the actual feat of strength and includes a poem describing it. The painting was made to celebrate the bravery of Colonel Sir William Smith, who inherited Hill Hall in Essex in about 1577. The humorous Latin poem was by his friend and neighbour Sir Robert Wroth of Loughton Hall (three miles from Hill Hall). The original painting was probably lost in the Civil War of 1642-1646, when Hill Hall was looted, but the Smith family may have had this painting made to replace it. The Colonel is shown in 17th-century costume, of the period in which the replica was made.

Subjects Depicted
According to the poem, a stag had broken into Colonel Smith's fenced garden, and started to crop the plants. The Colonel turned out his hounds, but the stag ran off into the wild. Suddenly it fell into a stag pit, and in pursuing it the Colonel fell in as well. He grappled with the animal as it tried to escape, dragging him along, and finally he overpowered it. He then tied its feet together with one of his garters.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleColonel Smith Grasping the Hind Legs of a Stag (generic title)
Materials and techniques
oil on panel
Brief description
A Man Grasping the Hind Legs of a Stag (COLONEL SMITH GRASPING THE HIND LEGS OF A STAG)
Physical description
Oil painting
Dimensions
  • Height: 101cm
  • Width: 61.3cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 06/04/1999 by cons
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • Exitus ambiguus rerum est quae mira videntur Viseq ratam possunt facta creare fode, Haec saepe eventus, casus qu volubilis affert Magnasque fornito digna stupore cadunt En tibi magnanimi facinus memorabile Smythi Nostre tibi historiam Carmine musa dabit. Stemaste Dux claro Symthus sed clarior susis Quem dominu Montis vindicat Aula suu. Cui Fortuna Comes cui Dux fuit altere virtus, Nomen ab hoc facto grande decusqye tulit Cervus hic solitis dum saltans saltibus erret Dunqie nocens vetiti pascus tondet agri. Smythus ut hunc agitet Cervu propere exist in agros, Et statione Canes Commodiore locat. At canbus Cervus non obuius, avius errat Et casu in fossae fonds profunds cadit. Insequitur cursu festinus & imminet illi Neci sibi d fossa Smythus hiante cavet Ergo ruere propere subitoq illapsus candem In fossam nec primo non putacas At simul aspexit pedetentim accessit et unum Arcte illi manibus stringit utrisq pedem Eis ut complexus se clunibus apta fuit Fossit se arrectum quadrupes atq. exilit alte Cruribus et comitis pondera iucta trahit. At tantam molem quae sat sunt crure trahendo Quod potuere parum non valuere cliu. Succumbit vis victo ferre [...] Hoc animos Iuveni consiliumq dedit Qui victim insurgens (telo omni exutus) in hostem Fronte feram et pugno stravit inermis [homo] Inde periscelifem d surs soluit et andax Hac transversa ferae compede circumligat. Capta fera est victor. nome memorabie cepit Qui copis haez oculis credulus ills cape. Si credit Cervi longa opto saecula vivas, Tam tot illustri lustre precare Duci, Mi credae Cervina tibi hic affixa minantur Cornus et precor cornus fronte geres. ROBERTUS WROATH
Gallery label
British Galleries: The original story can be found in British Galleries Online available in the Study Areas.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Purchased, 1945
Possibly commissioned by Sir Thomas Smith (died in 1668) or Sir Edward Smith Bt. (died in 1717)Painted in England by an unidentified artist, for Hill Hall, Essex; the Latin verses by Sir Robert Wroth II (born about 1576, died 1614)
Summary
Object Type
Wealthy families in the 17th century frequently commissioned paintings to commemorate the courage or nobility of an ancestor. This one is unusual as it shows the actual feat of strength and includes a poem describing it. The painting was made to celebrate the bravery of Colonel Sir William Smith, who inherited Hill Hall in Essex in about 1577. The humorous Latin poem was by his friend and neighbour Sir Robert Wroth of Loughton Hall (three miles from Hill Hall). The original painting was probably lost in the Civil War of 1642-1646, when Hill Hall was looted, but the Smith family may have had this painting made to replace it. The Colonel is shown in 17th-century costume, of the period in which the replica was made.

Subjects Depicted
According to the poem, a stag had broken into Colonel Smith's fenced garden, and started to crop the plants. The Colonel turned out his hounds, but the stag ran off into the wild. Suddenly it fell into a stag pit, and in pursuing it the Colonel fell in as well. He grappled with the animal as it tried to escape, dragging him along, and finally he overpowered it. He then tied its feet together with one of his garters.
Collection
Accession number
W.19-1945

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest