About this sheet
Muly Moloch – Antique Sporting Horse Lithograph, Hullmandel c.1840
A striking nineteenth-century sporting lithograph depicting the horse Muly Moloch, shown in profile while being exercised by a groom. The horse is portrayed with remarkable anatomical precision, captured in motion with one foreleg raised and its head turned toward a wooden post. The composition emphasizes the animal's powerful musculature, elegant proportions, and spirited temperament, characteristics highly prized by breeders and sporting enthusiasts during Britain's golden age of horse racing and equestrian culture.
The print was drawn by H.B. Chalon after an original work by B. Marshall and printed by the celebrated London lithographic firm of Charles Hullmandel. Benjamin Marshall (1768–1835) was one of England's most respected sporting painters, renowned for his portraits of racehorses, hunters, and prize livestock. His works were widely collected by aristocratic patrons and remain highly sought after by collectors of sporting art today. Hullmandel's workshop was responsible for producing some of the finest lithographs of the nineteenth century and played a pivotal role in establishing lithography as an artistic medium in Britain.
The horse depicted is identified as Muly Moloch, a named thoroughbred whose portrait was considered worthy of publication, reflecting the importance of horse breeding and racing within British society at the time. Unlike many decorative horse prints, this image functions as both a work of art and a historical record of an individual animal. The restrained composition, with minimal landscape elements, directs the viewer's attention entirely to the horse itself, allowing the artist's skill in rendering equine anatomy and movement to take center stage.
Today, sporting prints of named horses are highly collectible, appealing to enthusiasts of equestrian history, racing memorabilia, and nineteenth-century British art. The image's elegant monochrome palette also makes it particularly suitable for display in both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Condition: Age-related toning and light foxing. Minor creasing, handling marks, and small edge imperfections, including several short marginal tears and losses along the lower sheet edge. The image itself remains clean and well preserved. Please study the photographs carefully.
Framing tips: This lithograph displays beautifully in a dark walnut, ebonized, or traditional mahogany frame with a warm ivory mat. A narrow gilt liner can provide a refined sporting appearance while complementing the rich tonal qualities of the lithograph. Particularly suitable for libraries, studies, country houses, and equestrian-themed interiors.
