British Oil Painting Portrait Cricketer William Gilbert Grace

Important Victorian 19th Century British fine art oil painting on canvas portrait of William Gilbert Grace Cricketer. Impress your clients & guests with this sporting cricket defensive masterclass portrait masterpiece to display on your office or home wall space. Later applied title plaque has been added to to the lower frame area “The Straight Bat” William Gilbert Grace At Downsend Glos & England 1848-1915. Subject portrait of the known British sportsman cricketer William Gilbert Grace. He is is in full front profile facing towards the viewer showing his typical stance holding his bat straight, wearing his white sporting traditional clothing, cricket pads, standing on the popping crease, he is also wearing his stripped red & yellow cap. Grace has a large thick beard, the wicket just behind him, on a low cut pristine green grass cricket pitch. In the distant background our rows of benches for spectators to watch, with houses further back, on either flank tall green trees. Above a mix of cloudy sky with blue shining through. It is unsigned. Inscribed lower left 'W. G. Grace At Downend, Glos. British Provincial school artist. Plaque on the bottom showing the title The Straight Bat, W.G.Grace Glos & England (1848-1915). Set in original gilt frame which enhances this painting further, with hanging thread on the back ready for immediate home display. It has such beautiful detail. Biography of the sitter, William Gilbert Grace Mrcs Lrcp (18 July 1848 – 23 October 1915) was an English amateur cricketer who was important in the development of the sport and is widely considered one of its greatest players. He was nominally amateur as a cricketer, but he is said to have made more money from his cricketing activities than any professional cricketer. He was an extremely competitive player and, although he was one of the most famous men in England, he was also one of the most controversial on account of his gamesmanship and moneymaking. He played first-class cricket for a record-equalling 44 seasons, from 1865 to 1908, during which he captained England, Gloucestershire, the Gentlemen, Marylebone Cricket Club (Mcc), the United South of England Eleven (Usee), and several other teams. Right-handed as both batsman and bowler, Grace dominated the sport during his career. His technical innovations and enormous influence left a lasting legacy. An outstanding all-rounder, he excelled at all the essential skills of batting, bowling and fielding, but it is for his batting that he is most renowned. He is held to have invented modern batsmanship. Usually opening the innings, he was particularly admired for his mastery of all strokes, and his level of expertise was said by contemporary reviewers to be unique. He generally captained the teams he played for at all levels because of his skill and tactical acumen. Grace came from a cricketing family: E. M. Grace was one of his elder brothers and Fred Grace his younger brother. In 1880, they were members of the same England team, the first time three brothers played together in Test cricket. Grace took part in other sports also: he was a champion 440-yard hurdler as a young man and played football for the Wanderers. In later life, he developed enthusiasm for golf, lawn bowls, and curling. He qualified as a medical practitioner in 1879. Provenance from private collection, high end auction label verso & in collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant. Incredible conversation piece for your guests. A superb collectors item. We only select & sell paintings based upon subject, quality & significance. We provide our clients with friendly professional customer service. Viewings are welcome by appointment only for customer support please send a message thank you. Checkout our exciting other Fine Arts, antiques & collectibles available in our shop gallery.