Biographical Information

John Frederick Herring Senior
British 1795-1865

Born in Blackfriars, Surrey, John Frederick Senior was the son of Benjamin Herring whose brother was the sporting painter Benjamin Herring Sr. John’s father ran a fringe making business in Newgate Street, London and this was there J.R. Herring spent the first eighteen years of his life. As a young man he showed a passion for sketching and drawing. In 1814 Herring moved to Doncaster just in time to see the Duke of Hamilton’s William win the St. Leger. Shortly later he began a career as a coach driver, and by this time he was married to Ann Harris. Their first child arrived in 1815 and the family art tradition ran strong through their blood. Their sons, J.F. Herring Jr, Charles and Benjamin all became artist and daughters Ann and Emma both married artists.

It was during his coaching career he met Mr. Charles Spencer-Stanhope who was most impressed with his painting and found Herring his first serious commission for him. More work followed and before long people were trying to persuade him to give up driving and to follow art full time. A Mr. Frank Hawkesworth had so much faith in him that he offered to guarantee Herring work for a whole year, but he was cautious and declined the offer. After another hard winter of coaching, Herring decided to accept Hawkesworth’s offer. He was soon painting hunters and racehorses for many notable gentry. In 1818, he first exhibited at the Royal Academy, where he was to exhibit only twenty-eight pictures throughout his life.

In 1830 he moved to the Newmarket area, but remained only three years and than moved to London. He spent seven years in London and according to a memoir published by W.T. Copeland, he got into financial difficulties. Copeland took up the bills and provided Herring with a house on his estate at Leyton, Essex and commissioned pictures. Amongst there were the hunting designs that are used as decoration on Copeland Spode china.

In 1840-41, Herring visited Paris by invitation of the Duc d’Orleans for whom he painted a number of pictures, some of which were published in France and England. In 1845 he was appointed painter to the Duchess of Kent. This was followed by a commission from Queen Victoria who was to remain a patron the rest of his life. During his twenty years in London he became very successful and his finances improved efficiently to facilitate leaving London and moving to Kent in 1853. Here began an even more successful financial period. He departed from painting racehorses and painted almost solely farmyard scenes and narrative paintings. At Meopham he lived the life of a country squire and employed several staff. He worked daily with the assistance of his son Charles. Charles died in 1856, but John Frederick Senior worked on until the end of his life. Throughout his life he suffered from asthma and bronchitis, a legacy from his coaching days.

Herring’s horse painting is, at its best, strong, powerful and sensitive. At its works, one could accuse his racehorses of sometime being a little boring. A large number of his works were engraved. He contribute the The Sporting Review, 1842-46, Illustrated London New, 1844-45, 1864, The Illustrated Times 1859 and Bell’s Life in London.

*Special thanks to Sally Mitchell