Men, Women and Horses: Barnet Fair

In the foreground of this lively scene is a horse fair, with a funfair seen in the background. The fairs were held on the east side of the Great North Road around the railway station, which is alluded to by the smoke of a passing train in the distance. The cattle and horse market depicted here can be traced back to medieval times. Elizabeth I later granted Barnet a charter for its market in 1588 and the tradition still continues to this day.

Among the crowd portrayed in William Farley's densely-packed composition are gentlemen shaking hands, drinking and smoking, women and children. On the left in the distance, spectators are watching a boxing match on a stage and can-can dancers next door.

A self-taught artist, Farley joined the Canadian cavalry when the First World War broke out. Between 1936 and 1951, he exhibited sporting paintings and landscapes at the Royal Academy. Although Farley's works - which frequently feature horses - are well-known, by contrast little is known about his life.