John Ferneley I (1782–1860) John E. Ferneley Sr., born May 18, 1782, in Thrussington, Leicestershire, England, was a pivotal figure in British equestrian art during the Regency era and beyond. His legacy rests primarily on his masterful depictions of hunting scenes—particularly fox hunts—which captured the spirit of aristocratic leisure and celebrated the traditions of rural England. Ferneley’s artistic journey began under the tutelage of Benjamin Marshall, a renowned sporting painter who instilled in him a profound appreciation for observation and meticulous detail. This formative influence…