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Stephen Donoghue in the King's Colours

Artist: Lavery, John, Sir, RA RSA RHA · 1856-1941

Stephen Donoghue in the King's Colours

The painting was reproduced in monochrome in Lavery's autobiography 'The Life of a Painter' which was published in 1940. Lavery wrote of Donoghue;…

The painting was reproduced in monochrome in Lavery's autobiography 'The Life of a Painter' which was published in 1940.

Lavery wrote of Donoghue; "Steve Donoghue came to sit in the King's colours......No one could have been more considerate or helpful as a sitter. He arrived every morning punctually until the last sitting, when he was an hour late, explaining that he had had to 'waste' a couple of pounds. 'Can you do that in an hour?' 'Easily' he replied. 'Some healthy lady friends of mine would ike your recipe." 'Turkish bath and no drink!'

The sitter was a highly successful professional flat course horse racing jockey who is the only jockey ever to have won the Triple Crown (for winning the Epsom Derby, St Leger Stakes, and 2,000 Guineas in the same season) twice (1915 & 1917) as well as an unequalled 10 successive Epsom Derby wins between 1914-23 inc. In all he won 14 classics in his career. he retired as a jockey in 1937.

The present portrait may mark his 10 Derby wins.