The Portraiture of Fearnought

Dateca. 1760

After work by Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)

Engraver James Roberts (ca. 1725 - 1799)

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 8 7/8 × 5 1/4in. (22.5 × 13.3cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1961-255

DescriptionUpper right corner: "15"
Lower margin reads: "The PORTRAITURE of FEARNOUGHT./ The Property of His Grace the Duke of Bolton/ This Excellent Horse was got by bay Bolton and bred by Sir/ Will Ramsden bay Bolton was bred by Sir Matthew Pearson/ out of a Daughter of Makeless Son of Hautboy Son of D'arcy/ white Turk his Grand Dam was got by Brimmer Son of ye D'arcy/ Yellow Turk Fearnoughts Dam was got by the Lexington Arabian/ his Grand Dam by the Curwen Spot his Great Grand Dam by/ Spanker his Great Great Grand Dam was Dam of Grey Randsen got/ by ye Byerly Turk his Great Great Great Grand Dam by the Taffolet Barb/ her Dam by the Place White Turk out of a Barb Mare./ The 31st of March 1732 he beat Mr. Cooks Hobgoblin 8.st 4 Miles/ 500 guineas half forfeit the 21st April Carrying 9.st he beat Mr. Pantons/ Mouse Carrying 7.st. 5L 4 Miles Guineas the 11th of Novr. he also beat / Mouse at the same Wt. 500 Guineas 1 Mileplay or pay the 23d of February/ Carrying 9.st he again Mouse Carrying 8.st. 300 Guineas 1733 the 9th of/ April he received150 Guineas being half forfeit of Lord Portmores/ Grey Childers on a Match 8st each 4 Miles the 5th of Octr. Wt. 9.st. he beat/ Mr. Pantons Smart Weight 7st. 4 Miles 500 Guineas."
Label TextFearnought was a famous English racehorse born circa 1725 owned by the Duke of Bolton. Not to be confused with Fearnought, bred in England and then imported by John Baylor of Bowling Green, Virginia in 1764. 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."

Verse:
The PORTRAITURE of FEARNOUGHT.
The Property of His Grace the Duke of Bolton
This Excellent Horse was got by bay Bolton and bred by Sir
Will Ramsden bay Bolton was bred by Sir Matthew Pearson
out of a Daughter of Makeless Son of Hautboy Son of D'arcy
white Turk his Grand Dam was got by Brimmer Son of ye D'arcy
Yellow Turk Fearnoughts Dam was got by the Lexington Arabian
his Grand Dam by the Curwen Spot his Great Grand Dam by
Spanker his Great Great Grand Dam was Dam of Grey Randsen got
by ye Byerly Turk his Great Great Great Grand Dam by the Taffolet Barb
her Dam by the Place White Turk out of a Barb Mare.
The 31st of March 1732 he beat Mr. Cooks Hobgoblin 8.st 4 Miles
500 guineas half forfeit the 21st April Carrying 9.st he beat Mr. Pantons
Mouse Carrying 7.st. 5L 4 Miles Guineas the 11th of Novr. he also beat
Mouse at the same Wt. 500 Guineas 1 Mileplay or pay the 23d of February
Carrying 9.st he again Mouse Carrying 8.st. 300 Guineas 1733 the 9th of
April he received 150 Guineas being half forfeit of Lord Portmores
Grey Childers on a Match 8st each 4 Miles the 5th of Octr. Wt. 9.st. he beat
Mr. Pantons Smart Weight 7st. 4 Miles 500 Guineas.