William Hayes.

A Bantam Cock

11 x 13 inches

This impressive cockerel comes from an age when cockfighting was still considered an acceptable form of entertainment in England. Not banned until 1835, cockpits were common across the land and large amounts of money were placed in bets as competing cocks fought to the death. Although Bantams were a smaller breed, they were still capable of fighting. There is a naivety to William Hayes's illustration that eludes later, more anatomically accurate, C19th ornithological studies. Hayes (1729-99) lived and worked in London. When not producing wonderful prints of birds he was busy producing children: 21 in total! Many of them were apparently enlisted in the studio, often applying colour to the etched impressions. With so many mouths to feed, Hayes was always struggling financially and sough the patronage of wealthy benefactors such as the Earl of Sandwich and Sir Francis Child of Osterley Park (west London) in whose menagerie he was allowed free reign to illustrate the inmates.