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DOS2005-PC-180
The Portraiture of Basto
DOS2005-PC-180

The Portraiture of Basto

Dateca. 1760
Engraver Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)
After work by James Roberts (ca. 1725 - 1799)
OriginEngland, London
MediumEtching with line engraving
DimensionsOverall: 8 7/16 × 5 3/8in. (21.4 × 13.7cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1961-242
DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "1"
Lower area of the print reads: "The PORTRAITURE of BASTO. / The Property of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire /He was a high Bred, Strong, Beautiful Horse, and thought to / be equal to any in his time; he was got by the Byerly Turk, and / bred by Sr. Wm. Ramsden Bt. of Yorkshire, his Dam was Bay Peg, / she was got by Mr. Leed's Arbian, Sire of Leeds and of the / Grandam of Childers, Bastos Grandam was out of a Daughter / of Mr. Leed's Bald Peg and Spanker Son of the Darcy Yellow / Turk. Bald Peg Basto's Great Grandam was bred by General / Fairfax out of a Mare of that name and his Lordships Morrocco Barb. / Octo.r. 1708 he won a 4 Miles Match n.t 8.st 3.lb of Ld.Treasurers / Squril, n.t 12.lb. Nov.r. 5 he won a 5 Miles n.t 8.st. 5.lb. of / L.d Treasurers Billy n.t. 8.st 3.tb. Mar. 30 1709 he won a 4 Miles / Match n.t. 8.st. 5.lb. of the Ld. Raylton's Chance n.t. 7.st. Oct. 13 he won a / 5 Miles Match n.t. 8.st. 7.lb. of the Marquis of / Dorcester's Brisk; after he was sent to his Graces Studd / for a Stallion, and was Sire of Gimerack, Soreheels, Little Sean;/ and several fine Horses."
Label TextBasto (1703-c.1723) was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse who was well-known when he was active in the early part of the eighteenth-century and went on to sire several famous racehorses and mares. The 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."

Text on the lower part of print reads:
The PORTRAITURE of BASTO.
The Property of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire
He was a high Bred, Strong, Beautiful Horse, and thought to be equal to any in his time; he was got by the Byerly Turk, and bred by Sr. Wm. Ramsden Bt. of Yorkshire, his Dam was Bay Peg, she was got by Mr. Leed's Arabian, Sire of Leeds and of the Grandam of Childers, Bastos Grandam was out of a Daughter of Mr. Leed's Bald Peg and Spanker Son of the Darcy Yellow Turk. Bald Peg Basto's Great Grandam was bred by General Fairfax out of a Mare of that name and his Lordships Morocco Barb.

Octo.r. 1708 he won a 4 Miles Match n.t 8.st 3.lb of Ld.Treasurers Squril, n.t 12.lb. Nov.r. 5 he won a 5 Miles n.t 8.st. 5.lb. of L.d Treasurers Billy n.t. 8.st 3.tb. Mar. 30 1709 he won a 4 Miles Match n.t. 8.st. 5.lb. of the Ld. Raylton's Chance n.t. 7.st. Oct. 13 he won a 5 Miles Match n.t. 8.st. 7.lb. of the Marquis of Dorcester's Brisk; after he was sent to his Graces Studd for a Stallion, and was Sire of Gimerack, Soreheels, Little Sean; and several fine Horses.