Samuel Henry Alken Paintings

Samuel Henry Alken, also known as Henry Alken Jr., was a British artist known for his hunting, coaching, and equestrian scenes, as well as his sporting prints. He was born in 1810 into an artistic family; his father was the well-known sporting artist Henry Thomas Alken, and his brother Sefferien Alken was also an artist. This familial environment immersed him in the world of art from an early age.

Alken Jr. was trained by his father and inherited a similar passion for depicting sporting scenes. Throughout the 19th century, there was considerable public interest in such subjects in Britain, which provided a fruitful market for his works. Alken Jr. was adept at capturing the energy and movement of horses and their riders, a skill that made his work popular among the British gentry and aristocracy who were keen on hunting and other country pursuits.

Despite the popularity of his subject matter, Alken Jr. was not as well-known as his father, and his life and career were somewhat overshadowed by the senior Alken's reputation. Nonetheless, he produced a substantial body of work, including paintings and engravings, which were collected and appreciated in his time. His works were often reproduced in the form of prints, which were widely circulated, contributing to his modest but dedicated following.

Samuel Henry Alken passed away in 1894. While he may not have achieved the same level of fame as his father, he remains a respected figure among those who appreciate traditional British sporting art. His works continue to be of interest to collectors and can be found in various auction houses and in the collections of those who appreciate hunting and equestrian art from the Victorian era.