Print Collection
Print
ca.1871 (drawn), ca.1871 (printed)
ca.1871 (drawn), ca.1871 (printed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Circus began in late 18th century London with displays of horsemanship by Philip Astley, and equestrian acts remained a great favourite of all circuses. The feats of horsemanship illustrated on this lithograph were being executed by Miss Kate Cooke and her sister Miss Caroline Cooke, otherwise styled 'La Petite Mlle. Caroline.' Since both printer and artist came from Exeter, the Cooke family was probably performing in Exeter when this was produced. The Cooke family dominated the British circus scene in the 19th century. Thomas Taplin Cooke, a horseman, leaper and rope walker, had seven sons who became circus performers - Thomas, William, James, John, Henry, Alfred and George. By the early 1820s the Cooke family was running the Olympic Circus in Liverpool, and in the 1850s William toured a Hippodrome and ran Astley's circus for seven years.
This print is undated but it was probably produced around 1871 when a census return showed that Kate, 12, and Caroline, 9, were living in Clapham with their grandparents William and Mary Ann Cooke, 62, their sister Ellen, 10, and their uncle Victor, 22.
This print is undated but it was probably produced around 1871 when a census return showed that Kate, 12, and Caroline, 9, were living in Clapham with their grandparents William and Mary Ann Cooke, 62, their sister Ellen, 10, and their uncle Victor, 22.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Print Collection (named collection) |
Materials and techniques | Lithograph on paper |
Brief description | Miss Kate Cooke and Miss Caroline Cooke performing, possibly with Astley's Circus, c.1871. Lithograph by W.C. Featherstone printed by G. Townsend |
Physical description | This lithograph features vignettes in ovals and roundels of Kate and Caroline Coke in their riding act. The top three vignettes in the upper third of the engraving feature a central image of Kate Cooke in her curricle, headed in a ribbon ground: 'MISS KATE COOKE DRIVING HER MINIATURE CURRICLE IN THE PROCESSION', flanked by 2 images of Kate or Caroline riding side-saddle. The central 3 images feature Kate or Caroline riding side-saddle, and the lower third is illustrated with an engraving of Kate or Caroline riding side-saddle over jumps. The left-hand image is titled: 'Styled by Connoisseurs [sic] of the Equestrian Art', the middle one: 'La Petite Madlle Caroline, and the right hand one 'In her Elegant and Popular Act of the Manege'. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
Object history | The fact that both the lithographer and printer are in Exeter makes it likely that this was where it was produced,when the Cooke family were performing in Exeter. A manuscript note on the back reads 'Astley 1849-50' but this date is too early since the 1871 census has Kate 12 in 1871 and Caroline 9. |
Subjects depicted | |
Associations | |
Summary | Circus began in late 18th century London with displays of horsemanship by Philip Astley, and equestrian acts remained a great favourite of all circuses. The feats of horsemanship illustrated on this lithograph were being executed by Miss Kate Cooke and her sister Miss Caroline Cooke, otherwise styled 'La Petite Mlle. Caroline.' Since both printer and artist came from Exeter, the Cooke family was probably performing in Exeter when this was produced. The Cooke family dominated the British circus scene in the 19th century. Thomas Taplin Cooke, a horseman, leaper and rope walker, had seven sons who became circus performers - Thomas, William, James, John, Henry, Alfred and George. By the early 1820s the Cooke family was running the Olympic Circus in Liverpool, and in the 1850s William toured a Hippodrome and ran Astley's circus for seven years. This print is undated but it was probably produced around 1871 when a census return showed that Kate, 12, and Caroline, 9, were living in Clapham with their grandparents William and Mary Ann Cooke, 62, their sister Ellen, 10, and their uncle Victor, 22. |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.70-2008 |
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Record created | March 6, 2008 |
Record URL |
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