The Portraiture of Sampson

Dateca. 1760

Publisher Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)

After work by James Roberts (ca. 1725 - 1799)

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching and engraving

DimensionsOverall: 8 1/2 × 5 1/4in. (21.6 × 13.3cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1961-272

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "36"
Lower margin reads: "The PORTRAITURE of SAMPSON./ The Property of M.r Robinson./ This Excellent Horse was bred by Esq.r Preston & Trained by M.r Robinson of/ Malton in Yorkshire & is Esteem'd by most Gentlemen Sportsmen to be/ supperior in Strength to any Horse that has appear'd in his high form,/ he was got by Blaze his Dam by Hip, Son of y.e May Barb. His Grand Dam/ by Spark Son of Honeycomb Punch Son of the Tafflet Barb, his Great/ Grand Dam by Snake Soon of the Stradling Turk./ Sampson 1750 when 5 year Old won a 50.£ Prize at Malton 60.£ at Hambleton and/ 100 Guineas at Litchfield 1752 he won a Prize at Newmarket of 100.£ 11.st the same/ year he won the following Kings Plates at Winchester, Salisbury, Canterbury,/ Lewis & Newmarket & has been since a Stallion in high Esteem at Malton."
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 SAMPSON.
The Property of M.r Robinson.
This Excellent Horse was bred by Esq.r Preston & Trained by M.r Robinson of
Malton in Yorkshire & is Esteem'd by most Gentlemen Sportsmen to be
supperior in Strength to any Horse that has appear'd in his high form,
he was got by Blaze his Dam by Hip, Son of y.e May Barb. His Grand Dam
by Spark Son of Honeycomb Punch Son of the Tafflet Barb, his Great
Grand Dam by Snake Soon of the Stradling Turk.
Sampson 1750 when 5 year Old won a 50.£ Prize at Malton 60.£ at Hambleton and
100 Guineas at Litchfield 1752 he won a Prize at Newmarket of 100.£ 11.st the same
year he won the following Kings Plates at Winchester, Salisbury, Canterbury,
Lewis & Newmarket & has been since a Stallion in high Esteem at Malton.