This painting is mentioned in the artist's account books for 1829 and was produced for the Pares family of Hopewell Hall, in Derbyshire. This, and another painting, were purchased by the museum service from the Paget Collection in 1982. Major Guy Paget's book, "The Melton Mowbray of John Ferneley" gave an insight to sporting life in Melton Mowbray and the background to John Ferneley's paintings.