The Check (1802)

** This exquisite painting by Samuel Howitt, dating back to 1802, captures a moment of energy and pause in the traditional British sporting scene. In "The Check," Howitt vividly portrays a fox hunting scene set against a tranquil, expansive sky that softly melds into the horizon.At the center of the composition, two horsemen are depicted, both adorned in bright red jackets traditional to fox hunting attire. Their poised and alert stances suggest that they, alongside their steeds, are momentarily halting their pursuit. The horses, beautifully rendered in warm hues, exhibit both grace and controlled urgency.Surrounding these central figures is a vibrant flurry of hounds, each expertly detailed, adding movement and excitement to the scene. These hounds appear to be in various stages of motion, and their dynamic arrangement provides a stark contrast to the calm discipline of the riders.The landscape beyond the immediate excitement of the hunt extends into gentle, rolling fields, suggesting the vast rural environments in which these hunts typically occurred. The soft pastels employed in the sky and distant horizon evoke a serene atmosphere, encapsulating a typical early 19th-century English countryside.This painting not only illustrates a moment of sporting action but also captures the quintessential regality and structured chaos of fox hunting with a richness of detail that stimulates the imagination and transports the viewer back in time.