The Portraiture of Bonny Black

Dateca. 1760

Publisher Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)

After work by James Roberts (ca. 1725 - 1799)

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 8 7/16 × 5 1/4in. (21.4 × 13.3cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1961-253

DescriptionUpper right corner: "13"
Lower margin reads: "The PORTRAITURE of BONNY BLACK./ The Property of his Grace the Late Duke of Rutland./ She was a most Excellent Mare both as to Speed & Bottom her Performances/ were such as were hardly ever equal'd, She was bred by his Grace the Duke/ of Rutland and got by his Grace's Stallion call'd Black Hearty, which/ was got by the Byerly Turk./ Bonny Black at 3 years Old beat a 6 Years Old Horse of Mr. Framptons/ even weight 1ost at 4 Years Old she won the Gold Cup at Black Hambleton ag.st/ Mares 5 Years Old, she also won the Gold Cup at the same Place, at 5 Years/ Old, & at Newmarket April following at 6 Years Old she beat Lord Harveys/ Merryman 8 Years Old giving him 3st weight & beat Hackwood a Match/ carrying 8.st each, after which it was offer'd that she should Run four-times/ round the Kings Plate Course at Newmarket which is sixteen Miles/ without Rubbing for one Thousand Guineas with any Horse or Mare in the Kingdom."
Label TextThe print comes from a collection of forty engravings after the work of James Roberts and engraved by Henry Roberts entitled "The Sportsman's Pocket Companion" published around 1760. Though the horses were drawn by James Roberts, they were likely after other paintings and prints of famous racehorses. The majority of the horses represented in the prints raced between 1708-1755. The collection was originally bound, but the title page stated that "This Work is Contrived that it may be Framed & Glazed in various Sizes, & will make most elegant & pleasing Furniture."

Lower margin reads:
"The PORTRAITURE of BONNY BLACK.
The Property of his Grace the Late Duke of Rutland.
She was a most Excellent Mare both as to Speed & Bottom her Performances
were such as were hardly ever equal'd, She was bred by his Grace the Duke
of Rutland and got by his Grace's Stallion call'd Black Hearty, which
was got by the Byerly Turk.
Bonny Black at 3 years Old beat a 6 Years Old Horse of Mr. Framptons
even weight 1ost at 4 Years Old she won the Gold Cup at Black Hambleton ag.st
Mares 5 Years Old, she also won the Gold Cup at the same Place, at 5 Years
Old, & at Newmarket April following at 6 Years Old she beat Lord Harveys
Merryman 8 Years Old giving him 3st weight & beat Hackwood a Match
carrying 8.st each, after which it was offer'd that she should Run four-times
round the Kings Plate Course at Newmarket which is sixteen Miles
without Rubbibg for one Thousand Guineas with any Horse or Mare in the Kingdom."