Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1840
Mapmaker / artist
Maxim Gauci (Malta, active in London), printed by Charles Hullmandel, London, circa 1840
Technique
Lithograph
Sheet size
22.1 × 28.6 cm (8.7 × 11.3 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14291-33
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Age-related toning and light staining. Minor creasing, handling marks, and small edge imperfections consistent with age. Some wear and small losses at the sheet edges, as visible in the photographs.
A refined and highly decorative equestrian lithograph depicting a mounted gentleman riding a spirited saddle horse in an open landscape. The rider is shown in fashionable Regency attire, seated confidently upon a finely bred horse captured in an animated gait. The composition combines elegance, horsemanship, and the sporting culture that flourished in Britain during the first half of the nineteenth century.
The print was drawn and lithographed by Maxim Gauci, one of the most accomplished lithographic artists working in London during the nineteenth century. Gauci collaborated with many of Britain's leading sporting artists and publishers, producing works celebrated for their rich tonal qualities and exceptional attention to detail. This example was printed by Charles Hullmandel, the foremost lithographic printer of his generation and a pioneer in the development of fine art lithography in England.
Although the horse's name was not recorded in the published title, the print forms part of a series of equestrian and sporting portraits produced during the golden age of British horse breeding and riding culture. The careful rendering of the horse's anatomy, combined with the rider's elegant costume and posture, reflects the influence of the great sporting painters of the era, including John Ferneley and his contemporaries.
Sporting prints such as this were highly sought after by landowners, horse breeders, and members of Britain's hunting and racing communities. Today they remain desirable decorative works, appreciated both for their artistic quality and their connection to the history of equestrian sport. The restrained monochrome palette and graceful composition make this print particularly versatile for both traditional and contemporary interiors.
This attractive lithograph offers a fine example of early Victorian sporting art and would appeal to collectors of horse imagery, British sporting prints, and nineteenth-century lithography.
Condition: Age-related toning and light staining. Minor creasing, handling marks, and small edge imperfections consistent with age. Some wear and small losses at the sheet edges, as visible in the photographs. The image remains strong and attractive. Please study the images carefully.
Framing tips: This print displays beautifully in a dark walnut, ebonized, or traditional mahogany frame with a warm ivory mount. A narrow gilt liner can enhance the elegant sporting character while maintaining a refined period appearance. Suitable for country houses, libraries, studies, and equestrian interiors.
