Artwork
Hall's Quick Step

Hall's Quick Step is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Cooke. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The soldier’s pose and the title suggest this is a march dedicated to a military figure.
This image shows a tall soldier in a stiff uniform, standing at attention. His hat has a plume, and he holds a sword at his side. Above him is a banner with the words *Semper Paratus* and *Hall’s Quick Step*. The background looks like a battlefield with flags and cannon barrels on either side.
The soldier’s pose and the title suggest this is a march dedicated to a military figure. The print was made in Boston in 1840, likely for a band performance.
Want to know more? Look up lithography.
Overview
Hall's Quick Step is a lithograph created by Robert Cooke in 1840. The print is made in black on wove paper and depicts a military scene.
Subject & Meaning
The image features a soldier standing at attention, holding a sword and wearing a plumed hat, set against a battlefield backdrop with flags and cannon barrels. The banner above him bears the phrases 'Semper Paratus' and 'Hall's Quick Step', suggesting a march dedicated to a military figure.
Technique & Style
The print is a lithograph, a technique that allows for mass production of detailed images. The use of black ink on wove paper gives the image a stark, graphic quality.
Context
Created in Boston in 1840, the print was likely produced for a band performance, reflecting the musical and military culture of the time.











