Grey horse pictures
Composite horse pictures
Bay and chestnut horse pictures
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Horse Pictures - A Fine Grey
Antique
pictures of horses
The Beauties and Defects in the Figure of the Horse
Delineated in a Series of Coloured Plates
by H. Alken
Published in London by S. and J. Fuller at the
Temple of Fancy, 34 Rathbone Place - 1816
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Notes accompanying this plate
The animal from which
this drawing was made is accounted one of the finest
figures in England; although at the time the
portrait was taken he was 10 years old, and had done
a great deal of work both in the field and harness.
A small head and neck in a horse are considered a
great beauty; and in the original of this drawing, I
think they are the least I ever saw, in proportion
to the body.
I have described this
horse in the action of walking, for which he is
particularly famous, and have paid much attention to
his method of delivering the knee and foot. In
walking fast, he does not move two legs at the same
time; for example, in lifting the near leg before,
and the off leg behind, he raises one immediately
after the other bearing the shoulders well forward
before he takes the foot from the ground; and having
raised the feet, he delivers the knee in the form of
Figure 4; and the foot as Figure 2,
which, on a comparison with Figure 3, the reader
will find, gives the animal a manifest advantage:
for in the action of Figure 3, he must lose
much ground; while in the action of Figure 2, his
gain would equal to three inches at every step,
which, in a mile, would make a difference of a
hundred yards - a very long material
consideration in a match. The quarters of this
animal are long and very strong; and he delivers the
hind foot well under the body, bending it, at the
same time, at the hock and rising well in the toe,
or point of the foot of the standing leg. At every
step in walking, and indeed in all other action, the
shoulder should be seen to play free; for it may be
laid down as a general maxim, that a horse confined
in the shoulders can never have good action. |
The picture above is an
illustrated plate from the 1816 publication, the inside title page of which
is reproduced here along with the introduction to the book
"By
a detailed series of graphic and descriptive illustrations, it is the
intention of the Author of this Work to show the good and bad points in
that most useful and noble animal the Horse. He has adopted the mode of
detaching various parts of the subject, because, by comparison of the
distinct appearances, the general impression upon the memory of the
reader is much likely to be much stronger than could result from the
study of any treatise of a less abstracted nature; to understand which,
a knowledge of anatomy, or a constant reference to some scientific work
is indispensable.
This Publication is also intended as a
Book of Lessons for such young Artists as are inclined to pursue the
study of the Horse in all the different points of his figure and action.
There is no animal whose countenance
combines such correct and powerful expressions of character. The
physiognomy of the Horse, therefore, illustrating the different passions
to which he is subject, as well as the natural bias of his temper and
disposition, is an important branch of study to gentleman of the turf,
and to young purchasers; for it is generally considered, that to timid
riders and drivers, the temper of the beast is of more consequence than
any bodily blemish.
In this point of view, therefore, the
Author flatters himself that his Work will be found useful; and as his
remarks are the result of the most attentive observation during many
years, entirely devoted to the pleasures of the field, he trusts that
the general principles which he has laid down, as well with respect to
power, strength, and the various points of action as to the
physiognomical character and figure of the horse, will be found fairly
elucidated in the following series." |
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