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Jem Belcher Early 19th Century Oil Painting
James Belcher, also known as Jem Belcher was an English bare-knuckle prize-fighter and Champion of All England from 1800-1805. Belcher followed the trade of a butcher, though he was never formally apprenticed, and distinguished himself as a lad by pugilistic and other feats at Lansdown fair. He was a natural fighter, owing little to instruction in the art. His form is described as elegant; he was, at any rate, good-humored, finely proportioned, and well-looking. On April 12, 1799, after a fight of thirty-three minutes, he beat Tom Jones at Wormwood Scrubbs in the Middleweight Championship of England. He drew with champion Jack Bartholomew in a 51-round bout in 1799, but in the following year, on May, 18 1800, the 19-year-old Belcher, knocked out the 37-year-old Bartholomew out after 17 rounds with a 'terrific' body blow to win the rematch and become champion. In 1803, he had to appear in court for rioting and fighting, upon which occasion he was defended by Erskine and Francis Const. In July 1803 Belcher lost an eye in an accident and his high spirit declined, though he evaded challenges to his title until 1805. He displayed all his old courage but not his old skill or form, and did not win another fight. Offered here is the original 1805 oil painting of Jem Belcher by John Berridge which hung in the National Sporting Club in England, marked on the reverse and dated. In a large, ornate, wooden, gold leaf period frame, the painting is in fine condition with no holes or scratches. Color remains bold. The frame has some minor wear, but still retains its deep color and patina. The painting is 24x30" in a massive frame of 34x39". It is featured in the Bohun Lynch 1925 book, The Prize Ring, in which it is pictured and described. It will be sold with the book. One of the more remarkable offerings from a bygone era of early bare knuckle boxing in England.
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