CANVASES, CARATS AND CURIOSITIES

Brief History of Hunting

Whereas the topic of hunting animals might conjure up images of camouflage and highly technical firearms in the modern era, the act of hunting has a long and rich history, extending back to times before the rise of Homo sapiens. The development of stone tools and mastery of fire were pivotal in shaping early human societies, with hunting playing a central role in providing the essential protein for survival and longevity.

The earliest known spear throwers date back 30,000 years, while evidence of mammoth hunting with spears in Asia can be traced to approximately 16,200 years ago.

Humans are not the only species that have turned hunting into an art form— many animals, such as killer whales, orchestrate sophisticated hunts, demonstrating organized techniques to trap their prey. Across the animal kingdom, hunting is incredibly sophisticated and often a visible symbol of power.

However, humans elevated hunting into something far more—depicting it in murals since the dawn of civilization, incorporating animals and customs in elaborate hunts and turning the pursuit into pageantry. Join us as we take a journey through the way hunting has been immortalized in art history as a symbol of leadership, strength, a connection to nature and the endurance of the human spirit.

Europe’s Medieval Hunting Practices

Formal recreational hunting has ancient origins, with some of the earliest examples seen in the Assyrian kings, who hunted lions from chariots as a demonstration of royal power. In Ancient Rome, hunting rights were tied to land ownership, a practice that continued into the early Medieval period. Landowners took pride not only in harvesting game from their estates but also in extending the privilege to their friends, allowing them to benefit from the bounty of the land.

During the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties, monarchs established and managed royal hunting reserves, which were later divided into smaller plots following the dissolution of these monarchies.

After the Norman Conquest of England, vast tracts of woodland were designated as royal forests, where gamekeepers ensured that only the monarchy and select nobility could hunt. Poaching in these areas was considered a grave crime and peasants were limited to snaring smaller game like birds and rodents outside the royal reserves.

The Organization of the Hunt

Throughout Medieval Europe, hunting was governed by intricate traditions and terminology that ensured hunts were carefully planned and executed. Nobles often engaged in par force hunting, a highly structured and ceremonial form of pursuit considered the most prestigious method.

In par force hunting, wild mammals are chased over long distances, typically with the aid of hounds, until it is exhausted and can be captured or killed. The term par force, derived from the French phrase meaning "by force," underscores the physical demands on both hunters and their animals.

This form of hunting elevated the sense of danger while maintaining a controlled environment, providing an optimal experience for the participants. Boys of noble birth began learning the art of the hunt as early as age seven or eight, mastering horsemanship, weaponry and strategic terrain assessment.

To these noble societies, hunting was not merely a recreational pursuit but also a vital training ground for war, and men were expected to bring the skills learned on the hunting grounds to the battlefield.

Essentials for the Hunt

Horses:
Packhorses were used for day-to-day travel, while destriers—warhorses bred for strength and agility—were reserved for the hunt. These horses, specially bred for their speed and endurance, were essential to fox hunters in pursuit, requiring the expertise of master breeders to achieve the stamina necessary for long chases.

Birds:
Falconry, considered an aristocratic and royal pursuit, was a prestigious art form. Birds of prey, such as hawks and falcons, were prized for their sharp eyesight, speed and agility, making them ideal hunters of small game. These birds, among the fiercest of all wild animals, were trained to work in close harmony with their handlers, creating a deep bond between falconer and bird.

Hounds:
Dogs played a pivotal role in hunting. The common idiom "thrown to the hounds" actually originates from the hunting practice when the scent of a game animal was thrown to the pack of hounds awaiting their signal to take off after the prey. With their exceptional sense of smell, hounds were able to track prey over long distances. Greyhounds, renowned for their speed and aggression, excelled in the chase, though they lacked endurance.

Conversely, running hounds—similar to today's foxhounds—were known for their stamina and persistence. Despite their hunting prowess, these dogs were often gentle and docile in the home, making them beloved companions.

Typically, hounds were kept in kennels located near horse stables. They were given specialized diets depending on their role—either to keep them lean and quick or sturdier and more resilient. Pages were tasked with the care of these dogs, often sleeping in the kennels to provide round-the-clock supervision and to prevent the dogs from fighting.

During the Victorian era, Queen Victoria's passion for hunting and her affection for animals sparked a widespread trend of immortalizing beloved pets on canvas. Exemplified here, the renowned artist John Emms became celebrated as a master painter of hounds and terriers, highly sought after by elite clientele who wished to preserve their prized hunting breeds in portraiture.

Weaponry of the Hunt and War

In the medieval era, bows were the most commonly used weapons in both hunting and warfare. Archery, in particular, served a dual purpose: men practiced their skills in the hunt, which they then applied on the battlefield. For many, the same bows used for hunting were brought into war, making the line between the two practices fluid.

Types of European Bows

Ancient Greek Bow:
The Greeks typically employed a recurved composite bow and arrow, which was both expensive and time-consuming to make. While it required delicate care, the bow delivered significant power.

While the bow was essential for hunting and ranged combat, warriors often wielded additional weapons in battle. Interestingly, the ancient Greeks viewed the bow as a tool for hunting rather than warfare, considering it the weapon of cowards on the battlefield.

English and Welsh Longbow:
The longbow, particularly famous in English and Welsh hands, was among the most powerful bows ever created. These bows demanded a high level of physical strength to draw, with some reaching pull forces of 150–160 lbs/f (670–710 N). In contrast, modern bows rarely exceed a draw force of 60 lbs/f (270 N).

Other Weapons:
While bows were predominant, other tools such as cudgels were used, particularly by women who participated in hunting small game. These blunt instruments were effective for close-range hunting. However, for many farmers and merchants, hunting was a secondary activity, and their primary focus on warfare shaped their approach to weaponry.

Transition to Firearms in Europe

The gradual shift from traditional archery to firearms began in Europe as early as the 15th century, as technological advances improved the design and effectiveness of firearms. Initially crude and difficult to use, firearms were refined over centuries, with rifles, shotguns and handguns becoming the dominant weapons for both warfare and hunting by the 19th century.

Rifles:
Rifles were developed as a significant improvement in accuracy over smoothbore muskets. Early European examples of rifling—the practice of cutting spiral grooves into the barrel—date back to the 1440s. Gaspard Kollner of Vienna is credited with further refining the rifled barrel around 1498.

Rifles, with their grooved barrels, spun the projectile as it left the bore, increasing range, stability and accuracy. This design was crucial for precise shooting over long distances and became especially useful for both military and hunting purposes.

By the 19th century, rifles had become the preferred weapon for hunting large game in Europe and America, particularly after the development of breech-loading mechanisms and metallic cartridges. Rifles were designed to be held with both hands, braced against the shooter’s shoulder for stability and control. Their accuracy and higher stopping power made them an essential tool in both combat and hunting, where precision was required to take down large, fast-moving targets at a distance.

The American West saw widespread use of rifles like the famous Winchester, while in Europe, sporting rifles became a hallmark of aristocratic hunts. The power and precision of the rifle made it ideal for hunting large animals such as deer, boar and even bear.


Shotguns:
Shotguns, in contrast, were designed to fire multiple small projectiles, or pellets, in a single shot, making them ideal for hunting small game such as birds and rabbits. Unlike rifles, which excelled in long-range precision, shotguns were suited for short-range hunting, where speed and spread were more important than accuracy. The pellets spread out as they left the barrel, creating a wide pattern that increased the chances of hitting small, fast-moving targets.

The 19th century saw significant developments in shotgun design, particularly with the invention of the breech-loading shotgun. This allowed hunters to reload much more quickly than with the older muzzle-loading models. Shotguns also became versatile tools for various types of hunting. For small game, they were typically loaded with birdshot or buckshot, while slugs could be used for larger game, giving the shotgun more stopping power at close range.

Handguns:
Handguns, or pistols, emerged as compact, short-barreled firearms primarily used for personal defense. By the 19th century, revolvers became the most popular type of handgun, thanks to the innovations of gunsmiths like Samuel Colt. Colt's invention of the revolving cylinder, which allowed multiple rounds to be fired before reloading, revolutionized both personal defense and hunting.

In hunting, handguns were sometimes used as backup weapons. While rifles or shotguns were the primary tools, a hunter might carry a handgun for protection against predators or to finish off wounded game at close range. Revolvers like Colt’s Single Action Army, introduced in 1873, were particularly favored by frontiersmen and hunters in North America.

Handguns required less strength and stability than rifles or shotguns but were far less accurate, particularly at long distances. Their portability and ease of use, however, made them useful in certain hunting situations where larger firearms were impractical.

Hunting & Society

In Victorian England, hunting and shooting parties were elaborate social events, often hosted by the owners of grand country estates. These weekend-long gatherings, known for their exclusivity and extravagance, served not only as recreational activities but also as venues for conducting business and reinforcing social bonds. Honored guests arrived with well-trained gun dogs, demonstrated their expertise as marksmen, and donned their finest sporting attire to emphasize their status and skill.

Shooting parties typically involved smaller game, took place on foot and only later for a few hours. More intense par force hunting excursions—where hunters pursued game with dogs on horseback—could last an entire day. These events reflected both the sporting prowess and the social prestige of the participants, with careful attention to the era’s stringent rules of etiquette.

It is no surprise that hunting, especially on horseback, was a pastime reserved for the upper class, as the cost of maintaining hunting horses and equipment was substantial, along with the most valuable asset of one’s estate, time. A fine example of the hunting tradition is this exquisite Regency Mahogany Hunt Table from around 1820, which was specifically designed for serving beverages during a fox hunt. The table features a removable bar, which could hold a curtain when used indoors, and allowed staff to serve hunters before or after a day's hunt.

Hunting Today

Although the Victorian era is long past, aristocratic hunting traditions remain vibrant. The British Royal Family, for example, continues to embrace hunting as a cherished pastime, with regular shooting and hunting parties at their Scottish estate, Balmoral. Prestigious fox hunting clubs, such as the Aiken Hounds in Aiken, South Carolina, also keep the tradition alive. Recreational fox hunting, with its emphasis on heritage and sport, continues to thrive, demonstrating that the appeal of hunting as both a social and sporting activity endures.