Saturday, July 12, marks the anniversary of the birth of Edward Troye (1808–1874), America’s preeminent animal painter of the 19th century. During his 40-year career in the U.S., the Swiss-born Troye painted commissions of hundreds of prized Thoroughbreds, and was recognized by turf journalists as the greatest animal painter of his time.
Readers may be most familiar with his portrait of the champion stallion Lexington, which was adapted by the city of Lexington, Kentucky, as the blue horse “Big Lex” and can be seen around the city on various “VISITLEX” tourism signage.
At the time of Troye’s death in 1874, he was residing at the home of friend and Thoroughbred breeder Alexander Keene Richards in Georgetown, Kentucky. The Troye monument pictured here was erected in the artist’s memory in Georgetown Cemetery by his last patron James A. Grinstead of Lexington; Troye’s portrait of two-year-old Waverly, painted in September 1872 for Grinstead, was the artist’s final work.
To learn more about Troye, visit the American Racehorse magazine site here to read the Times’ contribution, “Edward Troye: America’s Equine Artist,” about two exhibitions of Troye’s work and life that were featured at the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia.
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