Artwork

Boxing match: Ben Caunt and John Perry (Perry the Black), Westminster Baths

Boxing match: Ben Caunt and John Perry (Perry the Black), Westminster Baths is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist John Burley Waring. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour depicts a boxing match between John Perry (Perry the Black) and Ben Caunt at Westminster Baths, London, in 1846.

About this work

In 1846, artist Waring painted a boxing match at London’s Westminster Baths.

In 1846, artist Waring painted a boxing match at London’s Westminster Baths. The watercolor shows John Perry, a Black boxer, facing Ben Caunt. Perry had boxed professionally just once that year.

Perry fought with precision—dancing, jabbing, and punching cleanly. Soon after, he was sent to Australia for forgery. Yet in 1849, he won the Australian heavyweight title there.

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Overview

This watercolour depicts a boxing match between John Perry (Perry the Black) and Ben Caunt at Westminster Baths, London, in 1846. The artwork captures a significant moment in the career of Perry, a boxer of African descent, in a rare visual representation of a Black athlete from this era.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, John Perry, was a Canadian-born boxer of African parentage who had served in the British Navy before turning to boxing for a living. His presence in the artwork highlights the complex realities of Black individuals in 19th-century Britain, navigating both athletic achievement and societal challenges.

Technique & Style

Painted by artist Waring in watercolour, the piece conveys the dynamic movement of the boxing match. The medium's transparency and fluidity likely capture the swift, precise actions of Perry's fighting style, described as poised and scientifically accurate.

History & Provenance

Created in 1846, the watercolour predates Perry's conviction for involvement in a forgery ring, which led to his transportation to Australia. Despite this, Perry achieved success in his new location, winning the Australian heavyweight title in 1849.

Context

The artwork is contextualized within the broader social and athletic landscape of mid-19th-century London. Westminster Baths, as a venue, and the sport of boxing itself, represented spaces where social classes and, occasionally, racial lines intersected, albeit with significant racial prejudice prevalent at the time.

Legacy

Now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, this watercolour serves as a rare visual document of a Black athlete's career in 19th-century Britain, offering insights into both the sporting world and the experiences of people of African descent during this period.