HIMLEY, S. after Dean WOLSTENHOLME

Coursing. Finding (Plate 2)

circa 1820. Colour printed aquatint heightened with gum arabic. Printed on wove paper. In excellent condition with the exception of being trimmed within the platemark on the bottom margin. Four puncture holes on left margin where it was bound. Image size: 9 5/8 x 12 3/4 inches. Sheet size: 12 5/8 x 15 3/4 inches.

A handsome aquatint of three gentlemen setting off to course a hare, by S. Himley after a painting by the celebrated sporting artist Dean Wolstenholme.

Around 1820, S. Himley produced two sets of hunting aquatints after skilled paintings by Wolstenholme. These sets, expertly engraved in aquatint, were comprised of four plates illustrating shooting, and four plates depicting coursing. As with many of the prints after Wolstenholme's paintings it is difficult to decipher whether Himley's works reproduced paintings by Dean Wolstenhome Snr. or by his son Dean Wolstenholme Jnr. The Wolstenholme's were both talented sporting artists who earned a reputation as skilled animal painters. Both father and son exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and garnered countless commissions from eager enthusiasts. They specialized in fine hunting scenes and had a natural flare for depicting movement, which lends their work an animation and life, which is truly compelling. This stunning print is lovely example of Himley's skilled hand and a wonderful example of English sporting art at its best.

Siltzer, The Story of British Sporting Prints 286-313, 364.

Item #15018

Price: $450.00