Skip to main content
Advanced Search
DOS2005-PC-203
The Portraiture of Sportsman
DOS2005-PC-203

The Portraiture of Sportsman

Dateca. 1760
Publisher Henry Roberts (active 1730 - 1790)
After work by James Roberts (ca. 1725 - 1799)
OriginEngland, London
MediumEtching and line engraving
DimensionsOverall: 8 1/2 × 5 1/4in. (21.6 × 13.3cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1961-274
DescriptionUpper right corner: "38"
Lower margin reads: "The PORTRAITURE of SPORTSMAN./ The Property of the Right Hon.ble the Lord Strange./ Sportsman is of Size, Speed and Bottom his Performances denotes him to be a most/ Excellent Horse having beat several capital ones he was got by the Earl of Derbys/ White Foot, his Dam was got by Nathan Son of L.d Lonsdales Arabian her/ Dam by L.d Godolphin's Dumplin her Grand Dam by Leeds out of Grey Whynot./ Sportsman the 10 of June 1752 won 50£ at Stamford the 3.d of Oct.r 50.£ at Newmarket/ the 12 of June 1753 he won the Kings 100 Guineas at Guilford the 18 of July the/ Kings 100 Guineas at Salisbury the 31 of Aug.t he Started alone for the Kings/ 100 Guineas at Lewis the 11 of Sep.r he Started alone for the Kings 100 Guineas / at Winchester the 18 of April 1754 he won the Kings 100 Guineas at Newmarket."

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 SPORTSMAN.
The Property of the Right Hon.ble the Lord Strange.
Sportsman is of Size, Speed and Bottom his Performances denotes him to be a most Excellent Horse having beat several capital ones he was got by the Earl of Derbys
White Foot, his Dam was got by Nathan Son of L.d Lonsdales Arabian her
Dam by L.d Godolphin's Dumplin her Grand Dam by Leeds out of Grey Whynot.
Sportsman the 10 of June 1752 won 50£ at Stamford the 3.d of Oct.r 50.£ at Newmarket
the 12 of June 1753 he won the Kings 100 Guineas at Guilford the 18 of July the
Kings 100 Guineas at Salisbury the 31 of Aug.t he Started alone for the Kings
100 Guineas at Lewis the 11 of Sep.r he Started alone for the Kings 100 Guineas
at Winchester the 18 of April 1754 he won the Kings 100 Guineas at Newmarket.