9. My soul's on fire and eager for the field

The frieze-like humorous genre scenes depict preparations for an English squire's hunting trip, assisted by his servants. Starting from the left, the sequence shows putting on riding boots, dressing in a riding coat and cravat, and mounting a horse. In the background, other riders preparing for the hunt observe the somewhat clumsy hunter. In the distance, more riders are gathering before the hunt begins. This print, numbered 9, is part of a series of fourteen compositions dedicated to a hunting expedition titled A Hunting Trip to Melton Mowbray, by John Dean Paul, 1st Baronet of Rodborough (1775–1852). Paul was a landowner, banker, painter, and occasional writer. He primarily painted landscapes and horses. He also published his travel journals from a visit to Paris in 1802, offering readers a glimpse into the city's pleasures and expenses, as well as an illustrated guide to fox hunting featuring 26 coloured illustrations. Hunting was a typical theme for English artists, reflecting the passion for an activity that was a principal pursuit of English gentlemen. As both a gentleman and an artist, Paul approached the subject with English humour. He entrusted the publication of his drawings to the London publishing house S. & J. Fuller in 1822. The first edition was produced using the aquatint technique and hand-coloured with watercolours. This second edition, created using colour lithography, was published between 1822 and 1832. The prints for both editions were created by Henry Thomas Alken (1785–1851), a London-based painter, draughtsman, engraver, illustrator, and caricaturist. Coming from a family of artists specialising in sports themes, Alken himself focused on depictions of horses, hunting scenes, and sporting events. His compositions often have a satirical character. Ewa Gwiazdowska