Lot 1575
EDWARD MARTIN (Fl.c.1845-1861)
A GAME OF STOOL BALL AT WEST TARRING, SUSSEX
Signed with initials EM and dated 1856, oil on canvas
39.5 x 69.5cm.
Provenance: Miss Boult, granddaughter of Robert Southey (1774-1843), who had friendships at West Tarring; by whom bequeathed to Sir Arthur Bryant, the historian (1899-1985), Myles Place, Salisbury; his executors' sale, London, Christies, September 6th, 1985, lot 737 (as `EAM`), whereat purchased by the owner.
* West Tarring is a village just north of Worthing and Martin was living in the village by 1855. The game of stoolball, which originated in the 15th Century, is believed by scholars to be a forerunner of both cricket and baseball and was traditionally played by milkmaids using their milking stools as wickets. An almost identical version of this subject in watercolour by Martin is in the collection of Worthing Museum and Art Gallery.
