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DOS2005-PC-181
The Portraiture of Old Scar
DOS2005-PC-181

The Portraiture of Old Scar

Dateca. 1760
Engraver Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)
After work by James Roberts (ca. 1725 - 1799)
OriginEngland, London
MediumEtching with line engraving
DimensionsOverall: 8 5/16 × 5 1/4in. (21.1 × 13.3cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1961-243
DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "3"
Lower part of the print reads: "The PORTRAITURE of OLD SCAR./ Scar was in very high Esteem in his time at Newmarket he was bred / by Esqr. Croft's of Yorkshire and got by Makeless a Son of the Oglethorp / Arabian. Makelefs was greatly Esteemed for running as well as a Stal- / lion he was Sire of Sr. Ralph Milbanks fine Black Mare, Scar's Dam / was got by Councelor, his Grand Dam by Brimmer, who was out of a / Darcy Royal Mare and the Yellon Turk that got Old Spanker, Scar's / Great Grand Dam was out of a Layton Barb Mare and Mr. Places / White Turk who was Stud Master to Oliver Cromwell. / Scar at Newmarket the 10 of Oct.r. 1710 carrying 8.st 7.lb. beat L.d. Dorchesters / Bay Wanton carrying 9.st 4 Miles Match the 7.th of April 1712 he beat L.d. / Harveys Ladythighs carrying 8.st. each. 4 Miles Match the 7th of April the 3d 1713 he beat / Ladythighs a second time carrying 8st. each 3 Miles Match the 24 Do he beat Ladythigh a third time carrying 7.st 3.lb. 3 Miles Match after which he was / sent to his Graces Stud as a Stallion."
Label TextOld Scar (b. 1705) a British Thoroughbred racehorse owned by the Duke of Devonshire. 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."

The text reads:
The PORTRAITURE of OLD SCAR.
The Property of his Grace the late Duke of Devonshire.
Scar was in very high Esteem in his time at Newmarket he was bred by Esqr. Croft's of Yorkshire and got by Makeless a Son of the Oglethorp Arabian. Makelefs was greatly Esteemed for running as well as a Stal-lion he was Sire of Sr. Ralph Milbanks fine Black Mare, Scar's Dam was got by Councelor, his Grand Dam by Brimmer, who was out of a Darcy Royal Mare and the Yellon Turk that got Old Spanker, Scar's Great Grand Dam was out of a Layton Barb Mare and Mr. Places White Turk who was Stud Master to Oliver Cromwell. Scar at Newmarket the 10 of Oct.r. 1710 carrying 8.st 7.lb. beat L.d. Dorchesters Bay Wanton carrying 9.st 4 Miles Match the 7.th of April 1712 he beat L.d. Harveys Ladythighs carrying 8.st. each. 4 Miles Match the 7th of April the 3d 1713 he beat Ladythighs a second time carrying 8st. each 3 Miles Match the 24 Do he beat Ladythigh a third time carrying 7.st 3.lb. 3 Miles Match after which he was sent to his Graces Stud as a Stallion.