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A bit about Henry Alken:
Born in London in 1784 into a family which became celebrated for its sporting artists and engravers. He is said to have worked as a trainer for the Duke of Beaufort, before studying under T. Barker Beaumont, the miniaturist, and he exhibited miniatures at the RA in 1801-02. He moved to Melton Mowbray in 1810 to train horses and eke out a livelihood in decorating trays with hunting scenes. His success really began when he issued prints under the name of "Ben Tally Ho" in 1813 and was at his most prolific in the 1820s and 1830s. His work was less interesting after that date and he died in poverty on April 8, 1851. His son H.G. Alken copied his father's work extensively. Alken illustrations and separate prints are lively and very colourful and are closer to the 18th century caricature than to the 18th century sporting print. He enlarged Gillray's idea that the mishaps of hunting could be depicted in the same format as scenes of The chase and his publisher was significantly Thomas M'Lean of 'The Repository of Wit and Humour'. Shaw Sparrow considers that he was most influential in creating a medium in which Phiz, Leech, and Caldecott could flourish. His Sketchbook, 1823 and Scrapbook, 1824 with pages crammed with nearly related but separated incidents, may have influended strip stories in the Victorian magazines. His drawings are most often seen in soft pencil with colour washes. (from "The Dictionary of British Book Illustrators and Caricaturists, 1800-1914" by Simon Houfe)
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Symptoms of
Being Amused Published by
Thomas McLean,
London Original Antique Hand-colored
soft-ground etchings Sheet Size:
9½ x 13½ inches Image Size:
varies, but approximately 7¾ x 9½ inches in most cases. Condition: Mostly Excellent. Some prints may have signs of foxing or other age-related"flaws." Please have a look at the enlarged photos for the best indication of each print's condition. |
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Click on the thumbnail images for a larger image. Please note: the entire sheet is too large to scan, so the outer edges are not shown in the enlargements, but are present as issued. | ||
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London, Published by Thos. McLean [Title page] Sheet size: 13 3/4 x 10 1/4 inches Condition notes: somewhat rumpled appearance, faint damp stain upper left margin, one-inch tear lower left margin, unobtrusive vertical crease just off-right-center, and another faint crease/dent upper left. Margins are lightly soiled. A few tiny fox marks. Please click on thumbnail image above for an enlargement for a better look at the condition. |
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Henry Alken etchings and engravings are also available from: |
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