Going the Pace, from The Grand Steeplechase over Leicestershire

Art Historical Context

"Going the Pace, from Grand Steeplechase Leicestershire" is a color aquatint by British artist Charles Bentley, published 1830. This captures the high-energy drama of a steeplechase race across the English countryside, showcasing Bentley's skill in depicting equestrian action. Part of a series celebrating the sport's excitement, it immerses viewers in the muddy fields and leaping horses of Leicestershire, a hub for fox hunting and racing in early 19th-century Britain. Aquatint, Bentley's favored medium, revolutionized printmaking by allowing rich tonal gradations and watercolor-like colors through etched resin grounds and acid baths. Here, the 25.5 × 36.3 cm image bursts with dynamic hues, evoking the speed and spectacle of the race. Affordable yet artistic, such prints brought elite sporting events to a wider audience, reflecting the era's growing fascination with leisure pastimes among the gentry. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this work highlights how visual culture documented Britain's sporting heritage. Imagine the cheers of spectators as riders push "the pace"—a testament to the thrill that made steeplechasing a national obsession.