A WELL-KNOWN Irish collector of sporting memorabilia has put up for auction a rare portrait of Victorian champion jockey Fred Archer, painted by celebrated portrait artist Rosa Corder in 1883, three years before Archer’s early death. Corder herself also died tragically young, 10 years after completing the portrait. The painting is considered to be the finest record left of Archer, who famously visited Ireland shortly before his death, and clearly depicts his treasured pearl cravat pin.

A celebrity of X-Factor proportions in his day, Archer brought Dublin to a standstill when hundreds of people turned out to catch a glimpse of him at the Shelbourne Hotel in 1886. He lost 6Ib in 24 hours in order to take two rides at the Curragh and while at the Curragh received the fateful telegram committing him to ride St Mirin in the Cambridgeshire, the severe wasting for which ultimately led to his fever and suicide.