Wool, silk; tapestry weaveexpand_more
The William Hood Dunwoody Fundexpand_more 33.23.2
In the foreground, a huntsman—a professional director of hounds—commands dogs in the distance with blasts from his horn. Farther afield, a female rider balances her spear while training her gaze on the fox to her right. The declining deer population at the time had forced hunters to seek alternative game such as foxes and other “pests.”
By the late 1700s fox hunting had become a faster, riskier, and very popular sport. Many women were edged out, whether from concern for their well-being or for fear they might outpace their male companions. Women hunters in some regions felt strong social pressure to ride sidesaddle or in carriages—“ladylike” indeed but not permitting the speed of riding astride. The hunter in this scene rides astride.
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know