Iron Duke, King Edward VII's chestnut shooting pony is depicted, standing, facing the right on straw in a stall, before a beige background, wearing a bridle.

Captain Charles Henry Augustus Lutyens (1829-1915) pursued a military career until 1857, when he retired to become a professional painter, specializing in portraits and horses. However, prior to that he had always drawn and painted in watercolours notably during his time in the Crimea, in 1855-6. From 1862 he lived in Onslow Square, South Kensington where he became a close friend of Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73), naming his son, the celebrated architect, after him.

This painting dates from the latter part of Lutyens career, when he had moved to Thursley, in Surrey, where he spent the rest of his life. However, he continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy until 1903. Curiously, the painting is signed: 'C + F Lutyens' and hints at collaboration between Charles and his son Frederick (1860-1924). A torn label on the reverse indicates that the painting was shown at the Earl's Court Industrial Exhibition in 1904. (A painting recorded at Theobald's Park in 1982 of the socialite, Valerie, Lady Meux and Volodyovski, 1901, also appears to bear a joint signature.)

The Royal Collection holds a Faberge model of Iron Duke, c. 1907, bought by Queen Alexandra in 1909 (RCIN 40411), and two photographs of King Edward VII on Iron Duke at Sandringham, c. 1901 (RCINs 501064 and 2107340).