Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

Description

The Jump That Made History — Pat Smythe and Finality, 1949
Winner of the Leading Showjumper of the Year, Horse of the Year Show, Harringay
S. Myndas (Follower of Lionel Edwards, 1878–1966)
Exhibited: Salon des Artistes Français (Paris Salon), 1956
Subject & Medium
This original watercolour on paper by S. Myndas, follower of Lionel Edwards, immortalises a defining moment in British sporting history — Pat Smythe and her mare Finality soaring mid-jump during their championship-winning performance at the inaugural Horse of the Year Show, Harringay, 1949.
Executed with luminous washes and finely controlled pencil work, the painting balances precision with emotion. Horse and rider are suspended in perfect alignment — an instant of unity, courage, and grace that secured Smythe’s place as Britain’s first Leading Showjumper of the Year.
The work epitomises the delicacy and movement of mid-twentieth-century British sporting art, each stroke alive with vitality and atmosphere.
Composition & Technique
Although the 1949 competition was held indoors at Harringay Arena, Myndas reimagines the scene in open countryside under gentle autumn light — a conscious homage to Lionel Edwards’s English equestrian tradition.
The pastoral backdrop symbolises freedom and spirit rather than spectacle. A disciplined pencil underdrawing provides structure, while translucent watercolour layers create a sense of air and motion.
Every rein, muscle, and shadow is rendered with restraint and care. The composition is both realistic and lyrical — conveying not only the athletic mastery of the moment, but also a sense of post-war optimism and renewal.
The Horse — Finality
Finality, a compact fifteen-hand bay mare, was renowned for her intelligence, rhythm, and flawless jumping form. Her balance and bravery mirrored Smythe’s intuitive control, forming a partnership built on mutual trust and poise.
Here, Myndas captures Finality at full stretch, her expression composed and alert — the embodiment of confidence in motion. The mare became a national favourite, remembered for her courage and character as much as her victories.
The Rider — Pat Smythe (1928–1996)
At just twenty-one, Pat Smythe became a national figure when she and Finality triumphed at the first Horse of the Year Show. Her elegance and determination in the saddle redefined the image of women in competitive sport.
Over the next decade, Smythe represented Great Britain in three Olympic Games — Helsinki 1952, Stockholm 1956, and Rome 1960 — earning a bronze medal in Helsinki, the first Olympic equestrian medal ever awarded to a British woman.
A writer, champion, and inspiration, Smythe’s story transcended sport her quiet confidence and mastery made her a post-war icon of perseverance and grace.
The Event — Horse of the Year Show, 1949
Founded by Colonel Sir Mike Ansell, the inaugural Horse of the Year Show was held at Harringay Arena, London, in September 1949. Conceived to celebrate Britain’s equestrian heritage and national renewal, it quickly became the country’s most prestigious showjumping event.
Broadcast live by the BBC, the competition brought equestrian sport into homes across the nation for the first time. Smythe’s victory became a symbol of hope and excellence — a new era for British sport.
Myndas’s painting commemorates that moment of transformation, where the athletic and the artistic merge seamlessly.
Significance
The Jump That Made History — Pat Smythe and Finality, 1949 stands as both a work of art and a document of national pride. Created shortly after the event, it captures the optimism and refinement of post-war Britain.
The verso bears the Salon des Artistes Français, 1956 stamp, confirming its exhibition or acceptance at the Paris Salon — a rare honour for a British sporting subject.
Through its beauty and provenance, the painting transcends commemoration, achieving recognition as a piece of enduring artistic and cultural significance.
The Artist — S. Myndas (Follower of Lionel Edwards)
Though little is known about S. Myndas, his style clearly aligns with that of Lionel Edwards (1878–1966), Britain’s most celebrated equestrian painter.
Myndas’s confident draughtsmanship, subtle tone, and sensitive depiction of equine anatomy reveal a practiced hand. The 1956 Paris Salon stamp confirms his professional standing and artistic accomplishment.
The painting’s balance of realism and lyricism firmly situates it within the great tradition of twentieth-century British sporting art.
Signature
Lower right: “Pat Smythe / Finality / 1949 / S. Myndas”
Verso: Stamped “Salon des Artistes Français, 1956.”
Frame
Newly framed to museum conservation standard:
Larson Juhl gold-leaf spoon-profile moulded frame
AR70 anti-reflective, UV-protective glass
White and gold double mount complementing the palette
Acid-free backing, sealed and professionally finished
Elegant, archival, and ready for display.

Provenance
1949 – Painted and signed by S. Myndas to commemorate Pat Smythe’s victory at Harringay
c.1950 – Professionally framed by The Rowley Gallery Ltd., Kensington (label verso)
1956 – Exhibited or accepted at the Salon des Artistes Français, Paris (stamp verso)
Private Collection – The Maltings, Gloucestershire
2023 – Exhibited: “Pat Smythe and the Post-War Equestrian Renaissance”, Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shrewsbury, curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd
By repute – Formerly the property of Pat Smythe herself (label verso)

Highlights
A defining moment in British sporting history — the first Leading Showjumper of the Year, 1949
Exhibited at the Paris Salon, 1956 — a rare distinction for a British equestrian subject
Painted in the refined tradition of Lionel Edwards
Features Pat Smythe and her renowned mare, Finality
Superb provenance and conservation
Ideal for collectors of sporting art, British history, and equestrian culture
Shipping
Worldwide shipping available. Professionally packed, fully insured, and handled with care.
The Jump That Made History — Pat Smythe and Finality, 1949 captures the poise, power, and partnership that defined an era. A rare and exceptional painting uniting art, sport, and national spirit in one unforgettable moment.
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