Lot 118: SMITH, Claude Loraine (1751-1835). Scenes with the Smoking Hunt . London: J. Watson, 1826. A set of 6 hand-coloured aquatint plates after Smith (241 x 328mm), window-mounted in oblong 2° album (435 x 575mm). Red half morocco gilt by Aquarius,

SMITH, Claude Loraine (1751-1835). Scenes with the Smoking Hunt. London: J. Watson, 1826. A set of 6 hand-coloured aquatint plates after Smith (241 x 328mm), window-mounted in oblong 2° album (435 x 575mm). Red half morocco gilt by Aquarius, red marbled edges.

'A VERY RARE SET ... the horses and landscape in their composition are most attractive,' states Siltzer who adds, 'Lorain Smith's horses impress one as being up to the mark - one would like to go hunting on them, and one would like to make a bow at the meet to this sportsman and painter'. The first plate, 'The Rendezvous of the Smoking Hunt at Braunstone', accounts for the hunt's name since three of the riders in the foreground are smoking cigars and another puffs at a huge pipe. The next scene, 'The Rendezvous of the Quorn Hounds at Grooby Pool', shows ladies riding side saddle. Wilder p. 117; Mellon/Smith 3; Siltzer pp. 250-256; Wilder p. 117, plate 46.