Albert Clark (1843 – 1892)
London-born Artist Celebrated for Equine and Animal Portraiture
Albert Clark is a London born Artist who created a range of pieces including ‘Saucy Boy’ and ‘Shire in a Country Landscape’.
Following in the footsteps of his animal painter Father, James Clark – Artist of ‘The Runaway Horse’, a painting dedicated to his second born son, Albert – Albert Clark was first recorded as an artist in 1861 at just 17 years of age.
Specialty and Commissions
Through his body of work which includes oil on canvas paintings of cattle and dogs, Albert’s speciality lies in the painting of horses. Albert Clark was regularly commissioned to produce paintings of race horses throughout his career and was occasionally asked to include the jockey in these images. As a local to the Islington Agricultural Hall, Albert Clark also had the accolade of producing portraits for the Islington Horse Show prize winners.
Career Highlights
- First recorded artwork at age 17
- Regularly commissioned for racehorse portraits, sometimes including jockeys
- Produced portraits for Islington Horse Show prize winners
- Continued to paint even after being reported deaf at 57
Later Life and Legacy
Forty years into his career as an artist at the age of 57, Albert Clark was reported deaf, however, he still continued to paint for many years with no hearing. Whilst his last piece of work is still debated upon, an article reporting on the Islington Summer Horse Show headed an image “having his portrait taken by a London Artist”. The sketch dated back to May 1892 and, as we know, Albert Clark was a regular attendee of these events, it is quite possible that this sketch may in fact be his work.
