Reproduction Antique Maps
Modern Prints
Horse pictures

Antique Maps of Ireland
Home  |  Maps of Ireland  |  Horse Pictures  |  Pictures of Egypt

 

Grey horse pictures


Composite horse pictures


Bay and chestnut horse pictures

 

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

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

First page of 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."

Feedback   |   Shipping   |