Biographical Information

Richard Stone Reeves
American 1921 - 2005

Richard Stone Reeves total domination of this most serious field of art is recognized now throughout the world. He has been valued above all other artists by the owners of great thoroughbred champions of the post-war era. He has painted more Classic winners for owners, breeders and trainers than any other artist who has ever lived. His reputation in Europe always has been extremely high and in recent years has painted all of the top horses for the Coolmore group in Southern Ireland.

In the USA, Mr. Reeves has portrayed just about every major horse of the past 40 years - from Citation to Genuine Risk, from Native Dancer to Swale, from Nashua and Kelso to Secretariat.

A direct descendant of Thomas Sully, the celebrated American portrait painter of the 19 th century, Reeves is a native of New York and graduated from Syracuse University with a fine arts degree in 1941. He served during World War II as a Naval Officer, being assigned to a top secret intelligence post in China from 1944 to 1945.

For the work of Richard Stone Reeves still remains, in many cases, the private enclave of the most influential families of the Turf. The paintings rarely, if ever, leave their original owners, and a "Reeves" at a major auction is nearly unheard of. There are few examples of his originals on public view. The National Museum of Racing at Saratoga has some, including his portrait of Secretariat. Even his art prints are rare by modern standards. There never has been an inexpensive edition of this work.

"George Stubbs, a Briton was the 18th century's great painter of horses. In the 20th century it is Richard Stone Reeves, an American " - The New York Times

"Richard Stone Reeves is by far the foremost painter of champion Thoroughbreds in the world today" - Fact & Comment, Forbes Magazine

"The pre-eminent Thoroughbred portrait painter of our day ... where ever horses are prized, so too are the portraits of Richard Stone Reeves. " - Charles Kuralt, CBS News