19th Century English Fox Hunting Engraving After W. & H. Barraud in Wood Frame

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A striking example of 19th-century British sporting art, this antique hand-colored engraving portrays the celebrated equestrian subject Mr. Willm. Long, … Read more A striking example of 19th-century British sporting art, this antique hand-colored engraving portrays the celebrated equestrian subject Mr. Willm. Long, on “Bertha.” Crafted in England circa 1855, the composition is after a painting by noted British sporting artists William Barraud (1810–1850) and Henry Barraud (1811–1874) and was engraved by Edward Hacker, a prominent Victorian engraver known for his equestrian and sporting subjects.

The imposing portrait depicts William Long mounted on his elegant dapple-gray mare, Bertha, surrounded by three foxhounds in an open English landscape beneath a dramatic cloud-filled sky. Dressed formally in a blue riding coat, white breeches, tall boots, and traditional hunting cap, Long holds the reins and riding crop while the attentive hounds gather around horse and rider. The Barraud brothers were especially admired for their accomplished depictions of horses, dogs, and British sporting life, and the careful anatomical rendering of the animals is particularly evident in this composition.

The extensive engraved inscription beneath the image reads “Mr. Willm. Long, on ‘Bertha’” and dedicates the portrait “To His Grace the Duke of Beaufort K.G.” The dedication associates the work with one of England’s most distinguished aristocratic sporting families and the long-established hunting tradition centered around the Duke of Beaufort’s estate at Badminton. The lower margins further identify the artists with “Painted by W. & H. Barraud” at left and “Engraved by Edw. Hacker” at right.

The antique engraving is presented under glass in a later dark-finished molded wood frame, professionally mounted with a broad linen mat and narrow burgundy fillet that complements the colors of the image and inscription. The reverse retains a label from Alum-Art Co., Inc. of Norwood, Massachusetts, documenting the later framing.

Rich in equestrian history and classic English country-house appeal, this handsome sporting print would make an impressive addition to a library, study, hunt room, equestrian interior, or traditional collection of British sporting art. Excellent condition commensurate with age and use, with light toning and minor age-related wear consistent with a 19th-century work on paper.

Dimensions: 32.5” W x 1” D x 26.5” H See less