Artwork Information

The Sartorius 'tribe', as Waterhouse described them, were a family of artists who specialised in sporting scenes. The subject of this painting, Eclipse, was one of the most famous race-horses of his time, and by 1894 could boast 260 direct descendants. One of these was Phar Lap, who reached similar status in New Zealand. A superb stud horse, Phar Lap now stands preserved in the Museum of Victoria in Melbourne, while his skeleton is at Te Papa in Wellington.