Artwork
Clearing The Fence
Clearing The Fence is a print by George Henry Laporte. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The print portrays a rider on a bay horse caught mid‑leap as they clear a wooden fence.
About this work
Overview
The print portrays a rider on a bay horse caught mid‑leap as they clear a wooden fence. Both figures are rendered in profile, moving leftward across a scene of hedged fields typical of the English countryside, with a distant horizon of rolling hills under a cloud‑filled sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a gentleman in formal riding attire, a dark jacket, top hat, and a whip in hand, symbolising the leisure pursuits of the rural gentry. The dynamic pose of horse and rider conveys a moment of controlled vigor, suggesting both skill and the spirited relationship between man and animal.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro to model the forms, using contrasts of light and shadow to give the horse and rider a three‑dimensional presence against the muted landscape. The print’s line work captures the tension of the jump, while tonal gradations suggest depth in the background foliage and sky.
Context
Set within an English pastoral environment, the work reflects 19th‑century interests in equestrian sport and countryside leisure. The inclusion of a fence and hedged fields aligns with contemporary depictions of country estates, where riding was both a practical skill and a fashionable pastime.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
George Henry Laporte was an English animal painter. He specialized in horses, mostly of the Arabian variety. His works depict scenes from hunting, racing and other sporting events, as well as animal still-lifes.
- Groom Mounted on a Carriage-Horse (Cheval de carrosse monte par un palfrenier)
Two Dappled Horses Exercising
Fox hunting
Racing Scenes: The Race (Scènes Hippiques: La course)
Two Horses Exercised by a Jockey
Outing on Horseback
The Advance of the Cavalry
Preparing to Start
British Horse and Jockey
The High-mettled Racer
Racing Scenes: A Horse Arriving at the Race (Scènes Hippiques: Cheval arrivant de la chasse)
Horses Exercising