Portraiture of Squirril

Dateca. 1760

After work by Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)

Publisher James Roberts (ca. 1725 - 1799)

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 8 5/16 × 5 1/16in. (21.1 × 12.9cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1961-262

DescriptionUpper right corner: "24"
Lower margin reads: "The PORTRAITURE of SQUIRRIL/ The Property of Esquire Williams./ he was bred by Mr. Smith of Yorkshire & got by Snake, whose Dam/ was got by Hautboy, his Sire was ye Lister Turk, Hauteboy was out of/ a Royal Mare & the White D'arcy Turk ye Dam of Squirril was got by y.e/ Akaster Turk Sire of Chanter; his Grand Dam was got by a Son of/ y.e Pulleyne Arabian his Gr.t Grand Dam was got by Brimmer out of a/ D'arcy Royal Mare & ye D'arcy Yellow Turk who got Old Spanker Sire of/ the Marqs. of Whartons Careless that got y.e Dam of ye Devonshire Childers./ It is allowed that Squirril for High Weight was the best Horse of/ his Age & time in the Kingdom He won 300 Guineas Match at/ Bridgenorth, 40.E Plate at Chesterfield, the Kings 100 guineas at York,/ Lincoln, Newmarket and in April following also at Newmarket,/ after which he was sold to Esqr. Crowley for 500 Guineas, on/ whose Demise He again became the Property of the aforesaid /Esq.r. Williams."
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."

Verse reads:
The PORTRAITURE of SQUIRRIL
The Property of Esquire Williams.
he was bred by Mr. Smith of Yorkshire & got by Snake, whose Dam
was got by Hautboy, his Sire was ye Lister Turk, Hauteboy was out of
a Royal Mare & the White D'arcy Turk ye Dam of Squirril was got by y.e
Akaster Turk Sire of Chanter; his Grand Dam was got by a Son of
y.e Pulleyne Arabian his Gr.t Grand Dam was got by Brimmer out of a
D'arcy Royal Mare & ye D'arcy Yellow Turk who got Old Spanker Sire of
the Marqs. of Whartons Careless that got y.e Dam of ye Devonshire Childers.
It is allowed that Squirril for High Weight was the best Horse of
his Age & time in the Kingdom He won 300 Guineas Match at
Bridgenorth, 40.E Plate at Chesterfield, the Kings 100 guineas at York,
Lincoln, Newmarket and in April following also at Newmarket,
after which he was sold to Esqr. Crowley for 500 Guineas, on
whose Demise He again became the Property of the aforesaid /Esq.r. Williams.