Picture of Reel Most Valuable.: Description of Major B. G. Thomas Famous Collection of Horse Paintings., Daily Racing Form, 1907-02-08

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PICTURE OF REEL MOST VALUABLE. Description of Major B. G. Thomas Famous Collection of Horse Paintinqs. Ten of the thirteen paintings of famous thoroughbred horses essbraring the collection of the late Major B. G. Thomas, and now on exhibition in Hie rooms of the Jockey Club in New York, are by Trove. Perhaps the most valuable painting of the entire colhciioii is that of the famous mare Reel, founder of a model family of horses. It. is said to be tlie only picture in existence of this famous mare. Because of this and for excellence of the work it is extremely valuable. The painting passed throagh the hands of two or three famous turfman of lie old school before becoming the property of Maj.r Thomas. It i claimed that it was buried dining war times lo make sure of its preservation from the raiding soldiers of both armies. 1 lie picture of Lexington, by Troye. slse 2." xM0 inches, painted in the spring of 1s7U when Ihe son of Boston and Alice Carncal was twenty years old. is unquestionably one of the ln-st pieces of work by the famous artist and persons who remember Lexington have said it is a magnificent likeness of the great horse. The picture of Lightning, by Troye, painted in May. IMfi* iS likewise fine. It is of similar size to the Lexington. There is also a magnificent picture of C.lencoe. Mxd inches, painted by Troye in 1S.".2 when the horse was quite old. The other Troyes are Dixie. palated in 1871, size 17°2 inches: a head of Mary Iladley. painted in 1ST2. size °.s.;2 inches: Roxane and foal, by Rhynodyne. painted in 1866, size :; i.;s inches, and small pictures of Boston and Lexington, both 10x12, painted respectively In 1S5I and 1S67. The other three pictures are fine likenesses of Vandal, size 38x48 inches: Leeompte, size 20x25 inches, and Picayune, size 2!»x.S6 inches. The picture of Roxane and foal was one of Major Thomas* favorites. The foal appears to be all out of proportion to the dam in size, and this fact was freely commented upon by visitors to the home of Major Thomas. He would chuckle In a knowiug way and ask his visitor to be seated until he explained. "In those days." the Major would say. "foals were allowed to run with their dams until weaned by the mares themselves. As this was rarely done 1111 1 i 1 close to foaling time again, the youngsters were virtually yearlings before being taken away from the mare. This accounts for the apparent mistake in the painting as to the size of Roxane and her fssl **


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Local Identifier: drf1907020801_2_13
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800