Horse portrait could fetch $33 million at auction

[April 06, 2011]  LONDON (AP) -- Christie's auction house says it is selling a masterpiece by equestrian painter George Stubbs valued at more than 20 million pounds ($33 million).

The 18th-century artist was renowned for his portraits of racehorses. "Gimcrack On Newmarket Heath, With A Trainer, A Stable-lad, And A Jockey" depicts one of the most famous and successful horses of the day.

John Stainton, Christie's senior director of British pictures, said Wednesday that the large portrait -- measuring more than 6 feet by 3 feet (1.8 meters by 0.9 meters) -- is "one of the finest sporting pictures ever painted."

The painting was last sold for 12,600 pounds in 1951. It is being sold now by the owners of the Woolavington Collection of sporting art.

It will be offered at Christie's in London on July 5.

[Associated Press]

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