Artwork
Print Collection
Print Collection is a print by the Impressionist artist G Townsend. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This undated lithograph depicts equestrian circus acts performed by Miss Kate Cooke and her sister, Miss Caroline Cooke ('La Petite Mlle.
About this work
Overview
This undated lithograph depicts equestrian circus acts performed by Miss Kate Cooke and her sister, Miss Caroline Cooke ('La Petite Mlle. Caroline'), highlighting their skilled horsemanship.
Subject & Meaning
The print showcases the Cooke sisters' feats of horsemanship, reflecting the enduring popularity of equestrian acts in 19th-century British circuses, a tradition rooted in Philip Astley's late 18th-century London circus.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work's artistic and technical aspects are characteristic of the medium, though specific stylistic nuances are not immediately discernible without further contextual or art-historical analysis.
History & Provenance
Probably produced around 1871, the lithograph's origins are tied to Exeter, where both the artist and printer were based, suggesting the Cooke family was performing there at the time.
Context
The Cooke family was a dominant force in the British circus scene throughout the 19th century, with various family members managing and performing in notable circuses like the Olympic Circus in Liverpool and Astley's Circus.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
This printmaker worked in the late 1800s, making detailed city scenes and landscapes.
