{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O53396"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O53396/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GW6352/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GW6352/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GW6352","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O53396","accessionNumber":"S.355-2000","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"'L'Ecole de Mars 1807'","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"A circus ring with audience wearing early 19th century dress seated in boxes to left and right back; from a festoon of curtains at top edge lights hang from spokes from a central support.  In the ring, two couples ride to right and left at the back, and to right and left foreground, two couples perform a hand-shaking manoeuvre on horseback.  Titled 'L'Ecole de Mars 1807.  The New Music to the popular Cotillon of Country Dance, executed by Several Celebrated Horses Perform'd with unbounded applause at the OLYMPIC PAVILION Newcastle Street, Strand The Melody adapted tot he various steps By Mr Astley Senr.'  To left: 'Sold by all the Music sellers in Tound & Country.  To right: Price 2 Shills.  Enter'd at Stationers Hall 1807.'","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraving","categories":[{"text":"Circus","id":"THES261738"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GW6352"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES351407"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"engravings","id":"AAT41340"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"34","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"34.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'1/6d each'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"Pencil","method":"Handwriting","position":"Reverse right hand side","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Textual information","note":"Textual information; Reverse right hand side; Handwriting; Pencil"},{"content":"\"J. W. PALMER & CO. / 25, NEWCASTLE STREET, / STRAND, LONDON, W.C.\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"Ink","method":"Stamping (marking)","position":"Reverse lower left of centre","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Textual information","note":"Textual information; Reverse lower left of centre; Stamping (marking); Ink"}],"objectHistory":"The print depicts L'Ecole de Mars, an equestrian entertainment devised by Philip Astley, presented at the Olympic Pavilion in 1807.  \r\nIt appears that the 'utility' of the Country Dance had been brought into question, and Astley penned a letter, published in the Morning Herald, 27 November 1807, stating the relevance to horsemanship.    \r\nThe print came to the Museum as part of the Cyril Beaumont Bequest.\n\nHistorical significance: Images of this form of horse display are relatively rare in English prints, which mostly show the famous trick riders.","historicalContext":"Equestrian entertainments became very popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  It has been suggested that, as riding became less of a necessity and more of an aristocratic accomplishment, out-of-work riding masters turned from instruction to trick riding and exhibitions.  The most successful was Philip Astley, and this print shows one of his popular riding exhibitions at the Olympic Pavilion, which he had opened in 1806 and how the equestrian displays developed from being one trick rider into group displays of horsemanship. L'Ecole de Mars was possibly devised by Astley to show off his pupils, as his letter published in the Morning Herald, 27 November 1807, refers to some of the executants only having learned riding within the last three months.","briefDescription":"'L'Ecole de Mars 1807' etching by unknown artist.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Astley, Philip","id":"N1244"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.355-2000"],"accessionNumberNum":"355","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2000,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-27","recordCreationDate":"2001-01-30","availableToBook":true}}