Race horse portrait (one of a set of six)

1739

Maker

John Bowles, printer (1701?-1779)
Probably Richard Parr, engraver (act. 1736-1751)

Measurements

9-3/4 in x 10-1/2 (sight, 7-3/4 in x 8-1/2 in)

Materials

Ink and watercolor on laid paper

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3593

Inscription

“R.Parr fecit ab Originale / 1739”; “Smiling Billy, a Horse the Property of Mr Palmer.”; “Printed for John Bowles at Black Horse in Cornhill”.

Condition Notes

The print exhibits some overall darkening.  It appears to be in its original frame.

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This race horse portrait is one of a set of six etchings (acc. nos. 1959.3591-.3596), each dated 1739 and likely part of a larger body (perhaps 25) offered to the public.  Horse racing was immensely popular in England in the mid-18th century, so much so that Parliament enacted the Gaming Act of 1739 to try to restrain unbridled enthusiasm, but within five years the act was reversed.  Each of the six portraits shows a lean, muscular animal with clipped tail and carrying a rider, all set against an imagined background. The banners below the image detail the horse’s name, owner, purses, race locations, and other matters of public interest.

These horse prints represent the taste of H. Rodney Sharp, rather than that of anyone in 18th century Odessa or the environs.

Bibliography

Zimmerman, A Storied Past, 255-256.

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