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DOS2005-PC-156
The Portraiture of Lamprey
DOS2005-PC-156

The Portraiture of Lamprey

Date1755
After work by James Seymour (1702 - 1752)
Engraver Richard Houston (1721-1775)
Publisher Thomas Spencer (1700 - 1763/67)
OriginEngland, London
MediumMezzotint with line engraving
DimensionsO: 13 3/4" X 16 3/8'; plate: 11 7/8" X 13 7/8"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1955-121
DescriptionLower margin reads: "Seymour delin.t / The Portraiture of Lamprey./ Lamprey was a Horse of Size & every way esteem'd a fine Horse; he was bred by the late Sr. Mat. Pierson of Yorkshire, and was full Brother of Bay Bolton, being got by a son of Mr. Wilk's / old Hautboy. Lamprey's Dam was a black Mare of the said Sr. Mat. Pierson's, got by Meickles, & his Grand Dam was got by Brimmer & was bred by De Roy out of a Royal Mare. / At Lamprey's first running he was the Property of Thos. Panton Esqr. in whose hands he won a Match at Newmarket against a MAre of the Duke of Somerset's for the King's 100 / Guineas in 1722 at Lewis in Sussex the following October being then John Neal's Esqr. He won the King's Plate at Newmarket, as he also did in April 1723 being then Sr. Wm. / Morgans, in whose hands he beat Lord Milsinton's Rake for 200 Guineas & received of Rake the same day 150 Guineas forfeit, he won a Match of 200 Guineas against Sophonisba, / & for 40 Guineas against Mr. Grizenwoods Puzzle, & received 100 Guineas forfeit of ye Carlile Gelding, he was Sire of a great many good Horses & dided by an Accident some Years agoe. / Housten fecit / March 10, 1755 / Publish'd as the Act directs."
Label TextThis print is part of a set of twelve portraits of famous racehorses published by artist and engraver Thomas Spencer, who was a student of James Seymour, the most famous sporting painter of the 1750s. Six of the portraits were by Seymour and six were by Spencer. The prints, engraved by Richard Houston, with a decorative rococo border that would have made these prints stand-out when framed. CWF owns five of the prints - see 1955-117 to 1955-121.

Inscribed below print: "Lamprey was a Horse of Size & every way esteem'd a fine Horse; he was bred by the late Sr. Mat. Pierson of Yorkshire, and was full Brother of Bay Bolton, being got by a son of Mr. Wilk's' old Hautboy. Lamprey's Dam was ablack Mare of the said Sr. Mat. Pierson's, got by Meickles, & his Grand Dam was got by Brimmer & was bred by De Roy out of a Royal Mare. At LAmprey's first running he was the Property of Thos. Panton Esqr. in whose hands he won a Match at Newmarket against a MAre of the Duke of Somerset's for the King's 100 Guineas in 1722 at Lewis in Sussex the following October being then John Neal's Esqr. He won the King's Plate at Newmarket, as he also did in April 1723 being then Sr. Wm. Morgans, in whose hands he beat Lord Milsinton's Rake for 200 Guineas & received of Rake the same day 150 Guineas forfeit, he won a Match of 200 Guineas against Sophonisba, & for 40 Guineas against Mr. Grizenwoods Puzzle, & received 100 Guineas forfeit of ye Carlile Gelding, he was Sire of a great many good Horses & dided by an Accident some Years agoe."