John Ferneley Junior

John Ferneley Junior (1815-1862) was the son of the important sporting painter John E. Ferneley and became a sporting artist in his own right.

His father was probably his sole teacher and took him on trips to London, Durham and York. His first work ‘Whipping-in’ was published in 1833 in the New Sporting Magazine.

He imitated the work of his father quite closely at first, but over time developed his own ‘prettier’ style more in keeping with the nineteenth century. He produced equestrian military and hunting groups, many on a grand scale. In 1839 he settled in York, probably due to the large number of Cavalry officers stationed there who were all potential patrons.

Very little is known of his life, apart from the fact he also worked in Manchester and Leeds as well as York.

His work is often confused with his father’s and it’s likely they collaborated on pictures. John Ferneley Senior tended to sign his paintings J. Ferneley, whilst his son signed his ‘John Ferneley’ and sometimes added ‘York’ and or ‘Jnr.’ to the signature. He also used thick black paint whereas his father signed his work very delicately with a pin head in the wet paint often hidden on a stable door, fence or unexpected corner of the painting.

Ferneley depicted hunting in its heyday when it was incredibly fashionable and his works have achieved towards £100,000 at auctions.