Portrait of Reformer, Blucher, Tory and Crib, the Property of Rowland Alston, Esq., M.P 1835

James Ward painted "Portrait of Reformer, Blucher, Tory and Crib, the Property of Rowland Alston, Esq., M.P." with oils, presenting us with a pastoral scene dominated by two horses. A large horse stands prominently to the left, balanced by a smaller one to the right, creating a rhythmic visual structure. The composition strikes a delicate balance between naturalism and the formal conventions of equine portraiture. Ward’s careful detailing of the horses' musculature and coat texture contrasts with the more loosely rendered background. This contrast draws attention to the animals themselves. The dogs and rabbit add a narrative element, yet the painting remains firmly structured around the horses' forms. Ward's skillful arrangement of elements within the landscape generates a tension between the wild and the cultivated. It elevates the animals to a level of symbolic importance. This invites us to consider the relationship between nature, ownership, and representation within the context of British sporting art.