Item Summary

Descriptive Information

Title
The high mettled racer [as a cart horse].
Call Number
D North 52/GC112/Box 09/Normal/Prints/Titles H GA 2014.00284
Identifier
ark:/88435/9g54xr74w
Publisher
London : [s.n.], 1789/07/20.
Language
No linguistic content
Date Created
1789
Extent
1 item ; sheet 33.8 x 43.8 cm.
Source Acquisition
Gift of Dickson Q. Brown, Princeton University Class of 1895.
References
Grego I, p. 261
Rights Statement
No Known Copyright
Notes
Medium: Aquatints
Item description: From a series of prints, four of which are as follows: "The High Mettled Racer" as a Race Horse. See the Course thronged with Gazers, the Sports are begun, The confusion, but hear, I bet you Sir, done, done. Ten thousand strange murmurs resound far and near, Lords, Hawkers and Jockies, assail the tired ear. While with neck like a Rainbow, erecting his crest, Pamper'd, prancing and pleas'd, his head touching his breast, Scarce snuftling the Air, so proud and elate, The high mettled Racer first starts for the Plate.
"The High Mettled Racer as a Hunter". Now Reynard's turn'd out and o'er hedge and ditch rush 'Dogs, Horses and Huntsmen, all hard at his Brush, Through Marsh, hedge and brier, led by their sly prey, They by scent and by view, cheat a long tedious day, While alike born for sports of the field and the course, Always sure to come through a staunch and Fleet Horse, When fairly rundown, the Fox yields up his breath, The high mettled Racer is in at the death.
"The High Mettled Racer" as a Hack Horse. Grown aged, used up and turn'd out of the stud, Lame, spavin'd and windgalled, but yet with some blood, While knowing postillions his pedigree trace, Tell his Dam won this sweepstakes, his Sire that race, And what matches he won, to the Ostlers count o'er, As they loiter their time at some hedge ale house door, While the harness sore galls, and the spurs his sides goad. The high mettled Racer's a hack on the road.
"The High Mettled Racer" as a Cart Horse. Till at last having labour'd, drudg'd early and late, Bow'd down by degrees, he bends on to his fate, Blind, old, lean and feeble, he tugs 'round a mill, Or draws sand, till the sand of his hour glass stands still. And now, cold and lifeless, exposed to the view, In the very same cart which he yesterday drew, While a pitying crowd his sad relicks surround, The high mettled Racer is sold to the hounds.
Signed in plate, lower left: "T. Rowlandson fecit".
Signed in plate, lower right: "J. Hassell aquatinta".
Campus holdings: An additional hand-colored set can be found in 2012-0010E.

Discovery Information

Subject
Caricature
Animals—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
Draft horses—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
Dogs—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
Veterinarians—Great Britain—18th century—Caricatures and cartoons
Occupations—Great Britain—18th century—Caricatures and cartoons
Country life—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons

Physical Characteristics

File Count
1

Institutional Information

Collection
Selections from the Graphic Arts Collection
IIIF Manifest URL

https://figgy.princeton.edu/concern/scanned_resources/4d5de9ac-ef60-49e1-b781-8a6fddd28273/manifest