Dick Christian's Last Fall, from Grand Leicestershire Steeplechase Possibly 1830

Charles Bentley's aquatint, "Dick Christian's Last Fall, from Grand Leicestershire Steeplechase," presents a dynamic, if unfortunate, moment in a horse race. Bentley's composition is structured by the diagonals of the horses' leaps and the landscape's rolling hills, which give a sense of vigorous motion across the scene. The earthy tones of the landscape and horses contrast with the crisp whites and blacks of the riders' attire and the dramatic fall of one horse. This work engages with the romantic-era fascination with nature and the sublime, framing the unpredictable and often perilous interaction between man and beast. The steeplechase, as a cultural event, reflects broader themes of risk, competition, and social status. Note the rider in mid-fall—his body upended, challenging fixed notions of control. The print's aesthetic structure mirrors the cultural moment, capturing both its excitement and its inherent instabilities. Bentley’s work invites us to consider how such images not only depict events but also participate in constructing cultural meanings and values.