Yale Center for British Art

Creator:: Henry Thomas Alken, 1785–1851, British
Title:: Scenes from a steeplechase: Near the Finish
Date:: ca. 1845
Materials & Techniques:: Oil on canvas
Dimensions:: 10 x 14 inches (25.4 x 35.6 cm)
Credit Line:: Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:: Public Domain
Accession Number:: B2001.2.51
Gallery Label:: Henry Thomas Alken came from a family of artists and made his name as a sporting art specialist, calling himself “Ben Tally-Ho.” His work was reproduced in prints and circulated widely, establishing a distinctive style that was popular across Europe and existed independently of the aesthetic canons of the Royal Academy. This is one of a set of four paintings showing different moments within a steeplechase. Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2016