'An Arabian belonging to John Warde Esq'.
After GEORGE STUBBS [1724-1806]. British Artist.

Mezzotint,

The discovery of this hitherto unknown state clears up much confusion and speculation on when the print was first printed. It has traditionally been grouped with three other prints of stallions published in 1771 by William Wynne Ryland (Lennox Boyd Nos. 19, 20 & 21). The previously earliest known impression of 'An Arabian belonging to John Warde' was published by Sayer & Bennett in 1777. Lennox Boyd, postulated by comparison with the other Ryland prints, that there were likely to have been two earlier states. including one published in February 1771. It is now clear that there was an even earlier edition published by Ryland in 1770. Although the state offered here has a publisher's imprint, later states evidently had much further work done by the engraver, providing more detail to the sky, the trees in the background, the plants and tree in the foreground and to the horse itself.The painting on which this print was based was commissioned by John Warde [1721-1775] of Squerryes Court near Westerham, Kent, and is still with the family. The horse was imported from Alexandretta in Turkey in 1762. Stubbs produced an etching himself of this painting (Lennox Boyd 17).