Just a quick snapshot... a quality reproduction of one of the most famous English (*) rugby artwork: the "Roses Match" by William Barnes Wollen, showing action from a match Yorkshire (in white jerseys) vs Lancashire (in red and white hoops) played at Park Avenue in Bradford in November 1893.
It has yet to be framed!
Sean Fagan (rugbeia.com) has written a well researched article to bring this artwork into context... and to help you find the hidden "Ghost Player" in the painting... ! Please, don't wait to read "The Ghost in the Rugby Painting"...
"The Roses Match" now hangs on the wall of the Presidents Suite in the West Stand of Twickenham Stadium... limited access I'm afraid...
(*) possibly less famous than Robert Delaunay's "Equipe de Cardiff" or André Lhote's "Joueurs de Rugby"... Hey! I'm French ;-)
Edit : the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham also brings a very detailed story (yet unsigned... ) about the painting, its history and the controversy about the "Ghost Player"... another must-read!
I think that the player was painted out as it would have meant Yorkshire had 16 players on the pitch! Can't see all of the players from your photo but when I saw the original quite a few years back I mentioned it to the guide at the rfu who seemed put out that it could be such a simple explanation. Perhaps you can count them and let us know?
Jon
Posted by: Jon | 16/02/2012 at 12:16
Hi Jon. Nice pragmatical answer to this controvery !
This said, Im counting 27 players (red or white) on the paitings... it doesnt help!
Posted by: Frederic (www.rugby-pioneers.com) | 16/02/2012 at 17:17