Samuel Spode
Samuel Spode has been the subject of much research by the artist's great great grandson, Peter Roden, who compiled a comprehensive biography on this sought-after equestrian artist. Spode appears to have received legal training in his early years and to have married and left England, under a government incentive for settlers, for Van Diemen's Land (later Tasmania). He did not settle there and returned to England in 1826 from which time he begins to establish a career as a painter. Following the death of his first wife Spode re-married, only to become thrice widowed by 1839.
When Spode returned from Van Diemen's Land he settled with a family member close to the Mason Ironstone Works at Fenton in the Staffordshire Potteries. From here c.1830 he painted numerous works depicting the local landscape as well as horses and members of the equine community. In 1836 Spode visited Ireland to paint racehorses. He painted Birdcatcher also known as Irish Birdcatcher the first major Irish thoroughbred to win the Peel Cup at the Curragh on 21 October 1836 ('Samuel Spode', Antique Collecting, p.13). Records of notable Irish patrons for his works also exist, such as John Dawson Duckett Esq. of Carlow for a painting done in 1856. In the 1860s, Spode is recorded as marrying an Irish girl in Dublin (in spite of having a wife still living in England) and from this period Ireland became his base. The artist was in London at the time of the census in 1871 but he died in Dublin the following year. His death was registered by a Teresa Spode. Her connection to the artist has never been defined.
When Spode returned from Van Diemen's Land he settled with a family member close to the Mason Ironstone Works at Fenton in the Staffordshire Potteries. From here c.1830 he painted numerous works depicting the local landscape as well as horses and members of the equine community. In 1836 Spode visited Ireland to paint racehorses. He painted Birdcatcher also known as Irish Birdcatcher the first major Irish thoroughbred to win the Peel Cup at the Curragh on 21 October 1836 ('Samuel Spode', Antique Collecting, p.13). Records of notable Irish patrons for his works also exist, such as John Dawson Duckett Esq. of Carlow for a painting done in 1856. In the 1860s, Spode is recorded as marrying an Irish girl in Dublin (in spite of having a wife still living in England) and from this period Ireland became his base. The artist was in London at the time of the census in 1871 but he died in Dublin the following year. His death was registered by a Teresa Spode. Her connection to the artist has never been defined.
-
'A DARK BAY RACEHORSE WITH JOCKEY UP AND A VIEW OF ABBEY RUINS BEYOND'
- Price Realised: €8,500
- Sale: 19 February 2007
- oil on canvas
- 71 by 91cm., 28 by 36in.
-
'A CHESTNUT HUNTER WITH TWO GREYHOUNDS'
- Price Realised: €7,618
- Sale: 13 June 2001
- oil on canvas
- 61 by 75cm., 24 by 29.5in.
-
'"SAMBO", "GRIZZLE" and "SAMBO, DOT & ROUGH" (SET OF 3)'
- Price Realised: €7,237
- Sale: 09 October 2001
- oil on canvas, unlined
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
-
'BEADSMAN'
- Price Realised: €2,600
- Sale: 21 May 2012
- oil on canvas
- 11 by 14.5in., 27.94 by 36.83cm.
-
'CHARLEY'
- Price Realised: €2,539
- Sale: 09 October 2001
- oil on canvas, unlined
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
-
'PAIR OF GREYHOUNDS WITH A HARE'
- Price Realised: €2,300
- Sale: 13 December 2010
- oil on canvas
- 30 by 43cm., 12 by 17in.
-
'PRANCING HORSE, c. 1830'
- Price Realised: €1,500
- Sale: 22 March 2021
- oil on canvas
- 16 x 20in. (40.64 x 50.80cm)