The Taglioni!!!

London: R. Ackermann, 1837. Aquatint, printed in colours and finished by hand, by J. Harris (expert repairs, one just touching image area). A fine copy of the original issue on 'Whatman Turkey Mill' paper showing the Windsor coach at full speed

"In 1837 and 1839, Ackermann published many aquatints after Cooper Henderson's pictures of which 'The Taglioni!!!'... is the best. Devoid of setting, except for a line for the road, the speed of the coach and the actions of the horses pulling it are accentuated by the lack of unnecessary fuss or detail. One can almost hear the whole ensemble humming along like a finely tuned machine." (Lane Cooper Henderson and the Open Road p. 60). Cooper Henderson "was educated at Brighton and then Winchester before studying rather idly for the Bar and enjoying a European tour with his father and elder brother, John. While his father and brother sketched panoramas... Cooper Henderson found, to him, more interesting subjects among the coaches, carriages and postillions 'on the road'. On Christmas Eve, 1829, he was married secretly to Charlotte By (then aged sixteen), the daughter of a Thames lighterman. Disapproving of the marriage, his father gave him a small allowance and told him to leave London. Thrown mainly onto his own resources, Cooper Henderson moved to Bracknell in Berkshire and started to paint for his living. He was quickly successful and his pictures of coaches and coaching are well known, being more accurate and lively than those of his near contemporary, James Pollard. he soon received sufficient commissions to afford to return to London where he was reconciled with his parents." (Charles Lane British Racing Prints p.119)

Charles Lane Cooper Henderson and the Open Road p.96; Siltzer p.137.