"Symptoms of
Being Amused"

by Henry Alken

Published by
Thomas McLean,
London

1822-27

 

Hand-colored
soft-ground etchings

Sheet Size:
9½ x 13½ inches

Image Size:
7¾ x 9½ inches

Condition:
Mostly Excellent.
Some prints
may have signs of
foxing or other
age-related
defects. Please
have a look at
the enlarged
photos for the
best indication
of each print's
condition.
(note; entire image did not fit on scanner).

 

A bit about
Henry Alken:


Sporting artist, engraver and illustrator.

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 1801-2.

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)

We have many more
original Alken etchings,
please email us if
you are searching
for a particular print.
We will check our
collection for you!

Darvill's Rare Prints is pleased to offer a large selection of original Henry Alken etchings.

Henry Alken etchings and engravings are available from:
"Illustrations to Popular Songs" (1823)
"Symptoms of Being Amused" (1822-7)
"Sporting Prints" (c. 1830)

If you are seeking a particular caricature, please feel free to email or phone us
and we will be happy to see if it is available.
It should be noted that these are not modern reproductions, as many are selling these days.

Illustrations of popular songs of the day, Alken's imaginative vignettes illustrate the songs line by line. Their fine execution and hand-color make them wonderful examples of Alken's work.

We have dozens of etchings from "Symptoms of Being Amused" published in 1822-7.
The prints below are but a small sampling of those available.

of doubtful Amusement or Craneing

of doubtful Amusement or Craneing, etc.
$90

 

of being bang up

of being bang up, etc.
$90

of promising a vote

of promising a vote, etc.
$90

 

of being up, with down prospects

of being up, with down prospects, etc.
$90

 

of being wanted

of being wanted, etc.
$90

 

of catch my horse

of catch my horse, etc.
$90

 

of the Manager's Judgment

of the Manager's Judgment, etc.
$90

 

of learning to do the thing genteel

of learning to do the thing genteel, etc.
$90

 

of can't wait

of can't wait, etc.
$90

 

of doing the out side edge

of doing the out side edge, etc.
$90

 

We have many more etchings from this series...please email us if seeking a particular one.
Return to Humor and Satire page
Darvill's Rare Prints, fine antique prints and rare maps since 1918! Darvill's Rare Prints, fine antique prints and rare maps since 1918!
Antique prints from Darvill's since 1918 Rare Maps and Charts Limited edition prints from Alaska's most famous artist Rie Munoz Darvill's Rare Prints homepage About Darvill's Rare Prints
Sorry, we do not perform appraisals and we do not buy from unsolicited sources.