Set of 4 antique 19th century fox hunting aquatint hand coloured etching prints by H Alken & G Hunt

This item is also listed on eBay - click here to purchase direct from the seller.

Words cannot truly express how exquisite these prints are, the buyer will not be disappointed.

This is a superb genuine 19th century set of 4 aquatints etched by Henry Alken and aquatinted by George Hunt (Artist info below).

Each print has clear plate marks and are brilliantly hand coloured.

These are not the smaller prints that are at present flooding the market, these are large wall prints measuring approx 22 1/2" x 17" (540mm x 435mm) unframed. The plates measure 450mm x 355mm.

Published by Thomas Mclean, London and dated 1823.

Subject: Fox hunting scenes entitled 'Check', 'The cover', 'Full cry', 'The Death'.

Henry Alken (1785-1851).

Alken was born on 12 October 1785 in Soho London and baptised on November 6 at St James's Church, Piccadilly. He was the third son of Samuel Alken, a sporting artist. Two of his brothers were George, Samuel Jr (also an artist) and Sefferien John. In 1789, Henry's family moved to 2 Francis Street East, Bedford Square.

Young Henry first studied under his father and then with the miniature painter John Thomas Barber Beaumont (1774–1841), also known as J.T. Barber. In 1801, Alken sent a miniature portrait of Miss Gubbins to the Royal Academy Exhibition. He exhibited a second miniature at the Royal Academy before abandoning miniature painting and taking on painting and illustrating. Early in his career, he painted sporting subjects under the name of "Ben Tally-O". Alken married Maria Gordon on October 14, 1809 at St. Clement’s Parish Church in Ipswich. On August 22 a year later the couple's first son was baptised. Alken went on to father five children, two of whom were artists, Samuel Henry, also a sporting artist and known as Henry Alken junior, and Sefferien junior.

From about 1816 onwards Alken "produced an unending stream of paintings, drawings and engravings of every type of field and other sporting activity," and his soft-ground etchings were often colored by hand. When Alken was 26, he and his young family lived over a shop in Haymarket that belonged to print publisher Thomas McLean of the "Repository of Wit and Humour." Mclean paid Alken a daily wage of 30s, considered a good salary at the time.[1]

Alken died in April 1851 and was buried in Highgate cemetery. Although fairly affluent for most of his career, he fell on hard times towards the end of his life and was buried at his daughter's expense.

George Hunt (publisher/printer; printmaker; British; Male; 1820 - 1845; fl.)

George Hunt was a formidable printmaker and publisher and his works are highly sort after. He was an aquatint specialist who worked for others as well as publishing for himself or in partnership (esp. with Pyall). It is believed he maybe a relation of Charles Hunt (qv).

In fairly good cosmetic condition with some browning and foxing paper commonly has with this age. The paint has some patches of craquelure and bubbling but nothing major. On one of the prints there are little dots of paint loss, moisture damage and a small scratch to the plate. There is marking to the borders and scuffs to some of the edges and corners also but for a better understanding of condition please view the large pictures below by scrolling down this page.

These prints are for sale unmounted and unframed.

All prints will be sent via a fully tracked courier sandwiched between layers of stiff cardboard to prevent damage during transit.

If these were framed they would have an auction Est of £1500 - £2500

Bargain price of only £795 or feel free to make me a sensible offer.

For more pictures of these prints please check out my ebay listing where i have included many large pictures of each print within the listing description. Please copy and paste the following link into your address bar in your browser to take you there.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Owned-and-Loved/Prints-/_i.html?_fsub=470773519&_sid=1068523339&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322?refid=store

Listed under : Hunting Memorabilia