After Chalon, Volunteer & Selim Thoroughbred Horses, Lithographs, 1840, Set of 2

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Volunteer & selim – pair of antique thoroughbred horse lithographs, c.1840 a handsome pair of original nineteenth-century sporting lithographs depicting … Read more Volunteer & selim – pair of antique thoroughbred horse lithographs, c.1840 a handsome pair of original nineteenth-century sporting lithographs depicting the celebrated horses volunteer and selim, two elegant examples of the breeding and equestrian ideals that defined britain's golden age of horse racing and sporting culture. Rendered in matching format and style, these portraits form an attractive decorative pair while also preserving the history of notable thoroughbred bloodlines. The prints were drawn on stone by h.b. Chalon and printed by the renowned london lithographer charles hullmandel, one of the most important printers of sporting subjects during the nineteenth century. Chalon was highly regarded for his ability to capture the beauty, movement, and anatomical precision of horses, while hullmandel's workshop produced some of the finest lithographs of the victorian era. The first print portrays volunteer, shown in motion across a rural landscape. The horse's elevated gait, flowing mane, and athletic posture create a lively and elegant composition that reflects the refinement and energy prized by nineteenth-century breeders and sporting gentlemen. The second print depicts selim, one of the most influential thoroughbred stallions of the early nineteenth century. Foaled in 1802, selim achieved distinction both on the racecourse and as a breeding sire, helping shape the future development of the thoroughbred breed. His bloodline became an important part of british racing history, making surviving portraits of the horse especially desirable to collectors of sporting art and equestrian memorabilia. Although neither horse was a pure arabian, both display the refined heads, elegant necks, and balanced proportions associated with arabian ancestry. These characteristics reflect the influence of the middle eastern foundation stallions whose bloodlines helped establish the modern thoroughbred. As a result, the pair illustrates both the beauty of the horses themselves and the breeding traditions that transformed british racing during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Displayed together, the prints create a cohesive decorative ensemble and offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of horse breeding, sporting art, and nineteenth-century printmaking. Their monochrome palette and matching format make them particularly suitable for libraries, studies, country houses, equestrian interiors, and collections of racing memorabilia. This offering is for original nineteenth-century lithographs, not modern reproductions. Any framed room visualizations are intended solely to illustrate potential display options and may not accurately represent the prints' exact scale relative to the frame or interior setting. Condition: age-related toning, foxing, and occasional staining. Marginal wear including small tears, losses, creases, and handling marks consistent with age and former binding. The images themselves remain strong, attractive, and well preserved. Please study the photographs carefully. Framing tips: these prints display beautifully as a matching pair in dark walnut, ebonized, or traditional mahogany frames with warm ivory mats. A narrow gilt liner can subtly enhance the rich tonal qualities of the lithographs while preserving their refined sporting character. Technique: lithographs maker: h.b. Chalon, england; printed by charles hullmandel, london, circa 1840. See less