"Study Of A Jockey" by Enrique Castro (SOLD)

Stylish portrait of a jockey by noted Argentine artist, Enrique Castro (signed LR)

Provenance: Acquired at the Tryon & Swann Gallery London

Art Sz: 10"H x 7"W

Frame Sz: 17"H x 13"W

Enrique Castro was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1938. From very early age he started to draw and when he was 13 years old he illustrated a cover based on a novel. For about 15 years he worked in many well known advertising firms like Walter-Thompson, McCann Erickson, etc. During that period he made his first trip to USA. An admirer of the American illustrators such as Rockwell, N.C.Wyeth, Charles Dana Gibson, Maxfield Parrish, etc., he received their influence.

View a Complete Gallery of Enrique Castro's work

Back in Argentina he settled in the countryside, and bred polo ponies for 15 years. And at the same time he managed a racing horses stud farm. Not satisfied with his technical level, he spent 8 years with a great Argentinean painter Miguel Caride that meant a turning point in his career.

He begun to exhibit his horses and won several first prizes.

Commissioned works started to pour in. Including from USA Bob Kieckeford former President of The American Quarter horse Association asked for his art and portrayed horses of his property. He exhibited in Saratoga many times, Lexington, Louisville, Manhattan (Wally Findlay), Palm Beach Polo (Chisholm Gallery), Lafayette, California (Pacific Wild Life) etc.

The time was ripe for London. He worked for 20 years at the Tryon Gallery, and became one of the most popular artists of the gallery selling over 300 paintings until it was sold in 1999. His action works in polo and racing are auctioned at Sotheby's and Christies in sporting paintings sales. He is always grateful to former owners of that gallery.

In fact he considers them as true friends. He learnt a lot about the international market and they gave him the clues to achieve excellence.

It was at Tryon that he developed his technique of "oil on paper".

Three years ago Benjamin Hall Vice President of Old Masters at Sotheby's, paid a visit to his studio to buy a racing scene executed with that technique. He was quite amazed. The Marchioness of Tavistock, through his son Lord Howland commissioned racing paintings for her more than 200 years old