09/22/2026
‘Why Weren’t You Out Yesterday?’ was inspired by one of Munnings’ many equestrian portraits in the 1930s. The specific work, Mrs Helen Cutting and Misses Brady, was for an American family in England. Munnings described it as “… a generous commission” and wrote that Mrs Cutting, whom he liked had said, “Make a picture of us just as you please … and you have horses – use your own.” This he did and was so pleased with the result, and in particular the depiction of the sky, that “for my own amusement” he repeated the design for a painting that he called ‘Why Weren’t You Out Yesterday?’
In this work the models were his wife Violet and a lady friend, again with “four horses of my own breeding … From left to right … Cherrybounce … Master Munn … Peggy’s Daughter … Sweet William.”
This study for ‘Why Weren’t You Out Yesterday?’ can be seen on display at Castle House as part of our special exhibition ‘Pictures from Private Collections’. 🎩🐎
Exhibition runs until 25th October 2026.
A special exhibition charting the museum’s history culminates with twenty paintings from Private Collections, many rarely seen in public.
Study for ‘Why Weren’t You Out Yesterday?’ (c1938)
Oil on board
Private Collection
