Chalon was born in London of Dutch parentage; he specialized in animal painting, exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy between 1792 and 1847. He worked for several members of the royal family: George IV; his sister-in-law, the Duchess of York; his daughter, Princess Charlotte, and others. This is one of a group of four horse portraits (OM 697-700, 407206-8 and 400528), which were received at Carlton House in 1813, remained there in store and after the King’s succession were sent to his more rustic residences: in 1822 they went to the King’s Lodge (now Royal Lodge) and then to Cumberland Lodge, both in Windsor Great Park. In the centre foreground a chesnut racehorse, Selim, walks to the left, with jockey William Edwards up, wearing royal colours (blue waistcoat and red sleeves); to the left, by a starting-post, is Mr Perren, looking back at Edwards, on a bay hack, Moonshine.