J. BEST 6l 



picture by George Stubbs which is in possession 

 of Earl Cowper at Panshanger, Hertford. 



The first mention of Best's original work occurs 

 in 1772 ; in that year he was for the first time 

 represented at the Exhibition of the Society of 

 Artists ; he contributed to this Exhibition in sub- 

 sequent years, but with no regularity ; on only 

 six occasions does his name appear in the cata- 

 logues of the Society from 1772 to 1787 — exclusive 

 of his maiden exhibit. Only two pictures from his 

 easel appear to have found their way into the 

 Royal Academy. In 1782, then residing at 10, 

 Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, he exhibited a 

 painting of "A Large Ox," and five years later 

 he was again represented at the Royal Academy 

 by his " Portrait of a Warwickshire Ox," his 

 address in that year being 108, Bunhill Row. 



The former work, by the way, was executed for 

 Mr. Robert Bakewell of Dishley, the celebrated 

 grazier and farmer, who will ever be remembered 

 as the man who produced and established as a 

 distinct variety the Leicestershire breed of sheep. 

 The Leicester sheep, to quote Youatt, " within 

 little more than half a century spread themselves 

 over every part of the United Kingdom and to 

 Europe and America." More germane to the 

 matter in hand, however, though less potent in 

 contributing to Bakewell's fame, were his sue- 



