An Equestrian portrait of the 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735-1811) riding his hunter to covert, attended by his mounted groom, an extensive landscape beyond signed lower left 'Sartorius / Pinxt / 1786' oil on canvas 70 x 88cm Footnote: Provenance: Thomas Miller Whitehead, sold to John Dunn Gardner (1811-1908) on 23rd March 1872 for £25, Thence by descent The landscape almost certainly represents that of the Duke's estate at Wakefield on the borders of South Northamptonshire and North Buckinghamshire, near Stoney Stratford. The land, known as the Honour of Grafton, remained a Crown estate until 1706 when it passed along with the Rangership of Whittlewood Forest to the 2nd Duke who was grandson of King Charles II by his mistress Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland. The country thereafter became known as The Grafton where successive dukes maintained a pack of hounds and were invariably Master. Condition report: Oil on canvas which has been lined. The picture is in plane with good tension. The paint layers have suffered from wear and abrasion as well as old damages, mainly located on the left hand side. Areas of retouching are slightly yellowed and smooth but fairly well matched. The varnish is matte and even with scattered fly spots and dust. Some wear to the gilding of the frame but generally sound.