Bonhams
One of the earliest known paintings depicting a football game is to go under the hammer at Bonhams in Edinburgh this summer. “The Village Ba’Game” c.1830 by Scottish artist Alexander Carse (c.1770 – 1843) is set to make £30,000 – 50,000 at Bonhams’ Scottish Sale, George Street on 25 August. It is very similar to another Carse picture belonging to a Dundee art gallery, which is currently on tour at the World Cup in Germany.

This charming scene, which measures 99 x 125 cm (39 x 49 in), was probably first exhibited at the Scottish Royal Academy in 1830 as “The Foot-ball Play,” and is one of at least three Carse paintings of the game. Carse was one of a group of Scottish painters which included David Allan and Sir David Wilkie, who embraced the themes of the 17th century Dutch artists and depicted ‘the poetry of common life’ – simple social gatherings, village fairs, tavern scenes and sporting events.

Posted: 06|7|06 at 10:08 am. Filed under: UK News.