Newmarket: A Shot at a Pigeon
August 1, 1801
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed within plate): 9 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (24.2 × 26.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund and Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, by Exchange, 1970
Accession Number
1970.541.200
Tags
Art Historical Context
This etching, dated August 1, 1801, captures a lively satirical scene set in Newmarket, the renowned English center of horse racing. The title “A Shot at a Pigeon” hints at a humorous or mocking episode involving men and dogs, typical of the period’s lighthearted commentary on sporting life and social follies. Created through the collaborative efforts of publisher S. W. Fores, printmaker James Bretherton, and designer Henry William Bunbury, the work reflects the vibrant print culture of early nineteenth-century Britain. Etching was a favored medium for such satirical subjects, allowing artist...