James Loder (1784–1860), frequently identified as James Loder of Bath, was a British animal and sporting painter active during the first half of the nineteenth century. Working from Bath, Loder developed a particular reputation for equestrian subjects, portraying racehorses, hunters and prized animals for patrons closely connected to Britain’s sporting and rural traditions.

Loder approached the horse as an individual subject rather than a generalized type. His paintings combine careful observation of anatomy, stance and markings with restrained stable interiors or expansive landscape settings. He also painted hunting groups, dogs, cattle and mounted portraits, creating a broader visual record of the animals and sporting culture valued in nineteenth-century Britain.

Painted in 1821, Old John demonstrates the directness and dignity of Loder’s equestrian portraiture. The dark bay horse is presented in profile beneath a broad, cloud-filled sky, its distinctive white marking recorded with particular attention. The open landscape provides atmosphere and depth while keeping the named animal firmly at the center of the composition. The painting is titled along the lower center and signed and dated at the lower right.

Loder’s work is represented in British and Irish public collections, including the National Trust, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, the Museum of English Rural Life, Heritage Doncaster and Armagh County Museum. These holdings preserve his contribution to the British tradition of animal portraiture and sporting art.