A Sussex Icon on Canvas: T R Davis’s Sussex Bred Ox at Bellmans
25/09/2025 Pictures & Prints
Bellmans Auctioneers is proud to present a remarkable piece of Sussex’s agricultural and artistic heritage in our forthcoming Old Master, British & European Art auction: Lot 1706, The Sussex Bred Ox by T R Davis (British, fl. 1825–1857).
Painted in 1826 and signed by the artist, this oil on canvas (63.5 x 76 cm) offers more than a fine example of early 19th-century animal portraiture. It tells the story of a “wonderful Sussex bred ox”, a beast that became a local legend. Alongside the painting are the ox’s actual horns, adorned in silver and engraved with a plaque detailing his journey: bred by Mr Denman of Wilmington, fattened by the Duke of Richmond, exhibited at Chichester and Brighton, and finally slaughtered in 1826 at the age of seven, weighing an astonishing 271 stone 2 lbs.
This evocative pairing of painting and horns makes the lot a unique record of rural life, farming pride, and the esteem in which Sussex cattle were held during the 19th century. Estimated at £2,000–£4,000, it offers collectors, historians, and lovers of the county’s heritage a rare opportunity to own a tangible piece of Sussex history.
The Sussex Ox and Its Legacy
The Sussex breed, native to the Southeast of England, rose to prominence in the early 1800s as one of Britain’s most reliable beef cattle. Known for their strength, early maturity, and quality meat, herds of Sussex cattle were a source of both agricultural advancement and county pride.
By the 1870s, their reputation had grown to such an extent that a formal society was founded to safeguard and promote the breed. On 18 November 1878, at The King’s Head in Horsham, breeders came together to establish The Sussex Herd Book Society (today known as the Sussex Cattle Society). The first volume of the Herd Book was published the following year, recording cattle bred from 1855 to 1875, a tradition that continues almost 150 years later.
Lot 1706 is a vivid reminder of this long heritage. The ox immortalised by Davis represents not just a single animal but a proud chapter in the agricultural story of the Southeast.
The Artist: T R Davis
Though little is known about Tyddesley R. Davis, his works survive as valuable documents of rural Britain. Active between 1825 and 1857, Davis specialised in animal portraiture, capturing both the grandeur and individuality of livestock. In The Sussex Bred Ox, Davis’s attention to anatomical detail and stately composition underscores the prestige of prize cattle in early 19th-century society.
Bellmans’ Old Master, British & European Art Sale
This lot forms part of Bellmans’ upcoming Old Master, British & European Art auction, held at our Sussex saleroom. The sale brings together an exceptional range of works spanning centuries and styles, from European old masters of the 17th century, to marine works of the 19th, and leading British artists of the early 20th century.
For collectors seeking a work that bridges fine art with local heritage, The Sussex Bred Ox offers a rare blend of narrative, provenance, and regional significance. With its accompanying silver-mounted horns, the lot stands as both a work of art and an historical artefact.
Auction Details
- Sale: Old Masters, British & European Art
- Auctioneer: Bellmans, Sussex
- Lot: 1706 – T R Davis, Sussex Bred Ox, 1826
- Estimate: £2,000–£4,000
View the full catalogue and register to bid online here.
