Kings-Lane has dated these Henry Alken Equestrian Prints to the 19th Century.
These plates belong to Alken's celebrated satirical series, "Ideas, Accidental and Incidental to Hunting...", published in London by Thomas McLean at the Repository of Wit & Humour, 26 Haymarket. The series is famous for playing on the word "Idea" to capture the comical mishaps, arrogance, and misadventures of the early 19th-century equestrian set.
The trio comprises three highly narrative, captioned plates:
1. “I say my hearty fellow, have you any IDEA where I can get a personal conveyance to Melton?”
2. “I say my good woman, have you any IDEA how they manage here, to get a horse out of a Brook?”
3. “Throwing out Ideas... I say my Book caps are for LUNS where the bounds are... are you?” (An ironic depiction of a chaotic steeple chase/hunt line).
Each plate bears the classic artist publication line 'Hy. Alken, Del.t'. Beautifully finished with an original contemporary hand-coloured wash, these prints display the lively caricatured expressions, fluid horse silhouettes, and dry British wit that made Alken one of the period's most desirable illustrators. Each print is presented uniformly in an elegant, simple black frame.
Condition Report:
All three prints are in stable, honest antique condition. The paper shows an authentic aged, warm cream patina with light time-toning and expected foxing spots consistent with 19th-century paper, adding to their period charm. The colours remain clear and defined. The later frames are structurally sound and ready for immediate exhibition.
Dimensions (Per Frame):
• Height: 31.5 cm
• Width: 25.5 cm
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Kings-Lane has dated these Henry Alken Equestrian Prints to the 19th Century.
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Henry Alken 'Ideas' Series - Trio of Hand-coloured Engravings Circa 1826
