Thomas Spencer After | Richard Houston Engraved Hand-Colored Equestrian Portraits, Pair | c.1750s | Framed 19.5” H × 21.25” W
Thomas Spencer After | Richard Houston Engraved Hand-Colored Equestrian Portraits, Pair | c.1750s | Framed 19.5” H × 21.25” W
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A striking pair of 18th-century British equestrian portraits after Thomas Spencer (British, 1700–1765) and engraved by Richard Houston (1721–1775). These hand-colored engravings on paper depict two celebrated thoroughbreds, White Nose and Babraham, each presented within an elaborate Rococo-style engraved border with heraldic crests and period inscriptions.
Spencer was known for his equestrian and sporting subjects, while Houston became one of the notable mezzotint engravers working in Britain during the mid-18th century. Together, their horse portraits capture the aristocratic racing culture of Georgian England and offer both decorative presence and historical interest.
The first plate, “The Portraiture of White Nose,” shows the dark-coated stallion being led before an estate landscape, framed by scrolling ornament and a coat of arms above. The second, “The Portraiture of Babraham,” depicts the celebrated racehorse alongside attendants and another horse, similarly bordered with ornate Rococo decoration and heraldic imagery.
The hand-applied color softens the graphic quality of the engraving and gives both works a beautifully aged, painterly appearance. The pair is professionally framed in coordinating dark frames with subtle gilt detail and wide neutral mats, making them especially handsome displayed together.
A wonderful addition to an English country interior, equestrian collection, library, study, or traditional gallery wall.
Artist: Thomas Spencer, British, 1700–1765
Engraver: Richard Houston, 1721–1775
Titles: The Portraiture of White Nose and The Portraiture of Babraham
Medium: Hand-colored engravings on paper
Period: Mid-18th century, circa 1750s
Quantity: Pair / 2 pieces
Dimensions, each engraving:
12” H × 13.75” W
Framed dimensions, each:
19.5” H × 21.25” W
Sold as a pair.
Antique works on paper naturally exhibit age-related toning, fading, variation in color, and other evidence of age and use. These characteristics are consistent with their period and contribute to their historic character. Please review all photographs closely for condition and presentation.
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