An 1863 painting of a racehorse named General (lot 39) owned by Thomas Chirnside, a major Victorian landholder known for the historic Italianate mansion he built in the 1870s at Werribee, almost doubled its high $30,000 catalogue estimate when it changed hands for $56,120 (including buyer’s premium) at Gibson’s Art and Photography auction in Melbourne on Monday June 15.
The painting was featured on the catalogue front cover and was part of a pleasing result...