Some of you may have seen the watercolour of the 1950's jag. That was sold to a vintage car collector who is also into his horses. Then he commissioned this piece ...the brief was to paint an image he recalls from his youth in 1962, when during a polo match of the Durham Light Infantry at Catterick a chap turned up in a brand new red e type jag with a girl on the bonnet.
Artist David Dent:
"There is very little in the way of photographic reference for the Durham Light Infantry polo and nothing in colour. Luckily I found a painting of them on the net by Lionel Edwards which I learned later the clients father...an officer... actually commissioned in the 1950s ! Surprised there is not more about the Durham Light Infantry polo team as they were a major force in India in particular in polo and would wipe the floor with posh hossifer regiments like the cavalry. The DLI attracted as officers people who were into their horses but couldn't afford to become a cavalry officer. The Household cavalry was £1000 whereas the DLI was £100. So privilege on the polo field was put to the mallet as it were...with an infantry regiment dominating for many years. The e type caused a sensation at the 1961 Geneva motor show and this would have taken place in June of the following year. Fashion model Jean Shrimpton was beginning to make waves then so I've loosely based the girl on the bonnet as her or at least with her hairstyle. I was three years old at the time and beginning to become aware of fast cars horses and pretty girls in nice clothes..as you do....We used to play polo on bicycles at a very heated and aggressive level some four or five years later enthralled by Kipling's stories and paintings by Edwards Snaffles etc and growing up with equally polo enthused kids from Bangladesh and Pakistan in Shirley park in Solihull there was much blood spilled and bruises had in vain attempt to impress the slightly older girls in by then mini skirts and high boots...equally trying their best to look like Jean Shrimpton. So thoroughly enjoyed doing this and it goes as a nice pair as a print with the jag on the gallops in 1955."
So ideal for classic car, fashion and horse lovers! Unframed 18"x9" £45 or large 30x10" £95 each signed and numbered.
