One of the earliest known paintings depicting a football game is to go under the hammer at Bonhams in Edinburgh this summer. “The Village Ba’Game” c.1830 by Scottish artist Alexander Carse (c.1770 – 1843) is set to make £30,000 – 50,000 at Bonhams’ Scottish Sale, George Street on 25 August. It is very similar to another Carse picture belonging to a Dundee art gallery, which is currently on tour at the World Cup in Germany.



This charming scene, which measures 99 x 125 cm (39 x 49 in), was probably first exhibited at the Scottish Royal Academy in 1830 as “The Foot-ball Play,” and is one of at least three Carse paintings of the game. Carse was one of a group of Scottish painters which included David Allan and Sir David Wilkie, who embraced the themes of the 17th century Dutch artists and depicted ‘the poetry of common life’ – simple social gatherings, village fairs, tavern scenes and sporting events.



Carse spent some time in the Scottish Borders and Berwickshire where he would have witnessed the commotion and ‘stramashes’ that engulfed a whole village when a football game took place. The painting captures the scene with a rugged naturalism and much humour, with a large number of villagers including children, clergymen and animals engaged in a kick-around, being cheered on by women and elderly spectators.



With World Cup fever upon us, the history of football is an increasingly popular subject. This painting is inviting much interest as it offers a rare and appealing view of the game’s background. It was purchased in Glasgow shortly after the Second World War, and has remained in the family since. This is the first time it has appeared at auction in over 50 years, and is likely to attract strong and competitive bidding.


For more details visit the Bonhams
web site.