The Portraiture of Silver Leg

Dateca. 1760

Publisher Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)

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

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 8 1/4 × 5 1/4in. (21 × 13.3cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1961-269

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "33"
Lower margin reads: "The PORTRAITURE of SILVER LEG. / The Property of Nath.l Curzon Esq.r/ This Excellent Horse was bred by the Earl of Portmore at Weybridge in Surry, / and got by Young Cartouch, Son of Old Cartouch, who was got by Bald Galloway,/ whose Dam was got by the Crippl'd Barb, his Grand Dam by Markeless, she/ was out of the Dam of Trumpet, who was out of a Darley Yellow Mare got/ by Places White Tregonwell Turk that got Commoner; the Ranter Gelding, and/ many others Silver Leg's Dam was got by old Cartouch his Grand Dam by/ Darley's Arabian Sire of Childers his Great Gran Dam was the Dam of Bay Bolton/ Lamprie &c./ Silver Leg 1748 the 1.st of June when 5 years Old won 50.£ at Guilford, 1749 the 5.th of/ May 50.£ at Epsom and 50.£ at Winchester 1750 the 16th of May 50.£ at Epsom the 16.th of/ August 50.£ at Derby the 17.th of May 50.£ at Epsom the 18.th August 50.£ at Chesterifield,/ the 28th. 50.£ at Litchfield the 23.d October he won a Match of 100 Guineas the last/ 2 Miles over the Beacon Course at Newmarket beating Lord March's Horse/ Chance, carrying 10.st 4lb Silver Leg 9.st 1b 1752 the 4.th of July he won 50.£ at Ipswich,/ the 2.d of Sept.r. he Started alone at Burford, the 2.d of Oct.r. he won 50.£ at Newmarket."
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:
This Excellent Horse was bred by the Earl of Portmore at Weybridge in Surry,
and got by Young Cartouch, Son of Old Cartouch, who was got by Bald Galloway,
whose Dam was got by the Crippl'd Barb, his Grand Dam by Markeless, she
was out of the Dam of Trumpet, who was out of a Darley Yellow Mare got
by Places White Tregonwell Turk that got Commoner; the Ranter Gelding, and
many others Silver Leg's Dam was got by old Cartouch his Grand Dam by
Darley's Arabian Sire of Childers his Great Gran Dam was the Dam of Bay Bolton
Lamprie &c.
Silver Leg 1748 the 1.st of June when 5 years Old won 50.£ at Guilford, 1749 the 5.th of
May 50.£ at Epsom and 50.£ at Winchester 1750 the 16th of May 50.£ at Epsom the 16.th of
August 50.£ at Derby the 17.th of May 50.£ at Epsom the 18.th August 50.£ at Chesterifield,
the 28th. 50.£ at Litchfield the 23.d October he won a Match of 100 Guineas the last
2 Miles over the Beacon Course at Newmarket beating Lord March's Horse
Chance, carrying 10.st 4lb Silver Leg 9.st 1b 1752 the 4.th of July he won 50.£ at Ipswich,
the 2.d of Sept.r. he Started alone at Burford, the 2.d of Oct.r. he won 50.£ at Newmarket.