A finely engraved sporting print entitled Killing Game in Boats / Chasse au Gibier en Bateaux, published on 1 September 1806 by Edward Orme at 59 Bond Street, London. Presented in a glazed frame, the print is a charming example of early nineteenth-century sporting and genre engraving, reflecting the growing popularity of hunting and country pursuits as artistic subjects during the Regency period.

The composition depicts a lively hunting scene centred around a group of sportsmen engaged in waterfowl shooting from small boats. Executed with considerable attention to atmosphere and detail, the engraving captures both the activity of the hunt and the surrounding landscape, creating a vivid narrative that combines elements of sporting art, topographical observation, and social history. The delicate treatment of the figures, boats, and distant scenery demonstrates the refined engraving techniques employed in London printmaking during the early nineteenth century.

The bilingual title, presented in both English and French, reflects the international appeal of such prints and the widespread fascination with sporting subjects among collectors throughout Europe. During this period, hunting scenes were highly fashionable, appealing both to sporting gentlemen and to those who admired the picturesque qualities of rural life.

Edward Orme (1775–1848) was one of the most important print publishers operating in London during the late Georgian and Regency periods. Appointed Printseller in Ordinary to King George III, Orme achieved considerable success through the publication of sporting prints, military subjects, topographical views, and coloured aquatints. His Bond Street premises became one of London's leading destinations for collectors, and many of the finest sporting artists and engravers of the day worked with his firm. Orme is particularly remembered for pioneering colour-printing techniques and for publishing works that documented both British sporting life and major contemporary events.

Published at the height of Britain's sporting print tradition, Killing Game in Boats embodies the taste for rural pursuits and country sports that characterised the era. Today, such prints are appreciated not only for their decorative appeal but also for the insight they provide into the leisure activities, fashions, and social customs of early nineteenth-century Britain.

The print is housed within an attractive glazed frame that complements the period character of the work and allows it to be displayed immediately. Its modest scale and refined subject matter make it particularly suitable for traditional interiors, libraries, studies, country houses, or collections devoted to sporting and hunting art.

Condition is commensurate with age. The print displays expected age-related toning and minor wear consistent with an early nineteenth-century engraving. The framed presentation remains attractive, and the engraved detail is clear and well preserved. Please refer to the photographs.

SIZE:
Height: 62cm
Width: 75cm
Depth: 2cm