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In August 2015 Ripley was approached by John Warren (the bloodstock and racing adviser to Queen Elizabeth II) on behalf of Her Majesty to create a portrait of ‘Estimate’.
Estimate, owned by The Queen, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore, had carried the Royal Colours to a historic victory in the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup (Gr.1).
Primary photography was undertaken in September 2015, this involved photographing Estimate at The Royal Stud at Polhampton and creating background-plates at Sandringham House. The portrait was worked on between November 2015 and January 2016, with the final piece completed by late February.
Ripley presented the picture to Her Majesty at a private function in May 2016.
The portrait is an edition of one (1/1) plus two Artist Proofs. The original 1/1 was delivered to Sandringham House in June 2016.
In December 2016 The Queen gifted a half-sized framed print of the picture to The Aga Khan on the occasion of his 80th birthday (view).
In 2017 Ripley loaned an Artist Proof to Ascot Racecourse where it is on public display (view).
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“Ripley has an incredible ability to capture and emphasise every aspect of the subject.
It’s rare - not only historically - to know some of the greats as they really were but also to enjoy and have a feeling of the environment in which they inhabited”.
- John Warren, Bloodstock and Racing Advisor to Queen Elizabeth II
“Ripley’s beautiful photographic art brings to life in a unique way the magnificence of the horse.
We are proud to exhibit his inspiring portrait of Her Majesty’s ‘Estimate’, winner of the Queen’s Vase and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, in our grandstand”.
- Guy Henderson, CEO (2015-2022) at Ascot Racecourse