John Frederick Herring, Sr.’s The American Trotter “Rattler” Driven by George Osbaldeston is a finely observed painting that presents the celebrated trotting horse “Rattler” in motion, guided by the accomplished sportsman George Osbaldeston. It is emblematic of Herring’s ability to combine accurate detail with a strong sense of movement and atmosphere.

The horse is depicted in mid-stride with carefully articulated musculature, its movement purposeful rather than dramatic. Osbaldeston, finely attired and seated confidently in the sulky, is portrayed with composure and authority, reinforcing the partnership between horse and driver that lies at the heart of the scene. In the background, the landscape opens to reveal an expansive landscape, bathe in light that breaks through the beautifully rendered clouds above. light-bathed landscape beyond. The brushwork is smooth and disciplined, characteristic of Herring’s mature style, with fine attention given to tack, harness, and carriage details—elements that would have been of particular interest to contemporary patrons and sporting enthusiasts.

Painted in 1834, The American Trotter “Rattler” reflects a period when trotting races and equestrian sport were gaining popularity and prestige, both in Britain and abroad. Horses such as Rattler were admired not only for their athletic capabilities but also as symbols of status, breeding, and modern sporting culture.

The sitter, George Osbaldeston, led a full and colourful life. He was brought up on the family estate in Yorkshire before being sent away to school at Eton. He only managed a year at Eton before being expelled. A period of education in Brighton led to a place at Oxford University. His time at Oxford was marked by a combination of an absolute avoidance of academic work and rowdy behaviour. He went on to become a lieutenant-colonel in the North Riding local militia and served a term as Member of Parliament for East Retford – a role to which he gave little attention. Osbaldeston’s true passion was for sport. He excelled at rowing, cricket, hunting and racing. He was particularly famed for his racing abilities, in flat, steeplechase, endurance and carriage races. He won numerous titles and finally retired from racing aged 69.

John Frederick Herring, Sr. was one of the most celebrated sporting and animal painters of his time. Originally trained as a coach painter, he developed an exceptional eye for horses, vehicles, and movement, which quickly earned him the patronage of aristocrats, military figures, and sporting gentlemen. He became particularly renowned for his portraits of racehorses, hunters, and coaching scenes, and later served as Animal Painter to Queen Victoria.

Herring’s work is distinguished by its combination of technical accuracy and narrative clarity. He approached animal painting with the seriousness traditionally reserved for portraiture, capturing not only physical likeness but also character and presence. His paintings often commemorate specific horses, races, or sporting accomplishments, making them both works of art and historical documents of 19th-century sporting life. A smaller painting by Herring of the same subject as the present artwork is recorded in the collections of the National Museums Liverpool.