Pugilism Collection

Richard Humphreys the Boxer, c. 1788 (oil on canvas)
5667210 Richard Humphreys the Boxer, c.1788 (oil on canvas) by Hoppner, John (1758-1810); 141.6 x 112.4 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Portrait of a Boxer, c. 1800 (oil on canvas)
5984050 Portrait of a Boxer, c.1800 (oil on canvas) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Sketch cover, Georges Carpentier, 1914
Front cover of The Sketch magazine featuring the French boxer, Georges Carpentier (1894-1975), posed before his much-publicised fight against Gunboat Smith at Olympia in July 1914. Date: 1914

Cooper the Gipsy, engraved by P. Roberts, published 1822 (colour litho)
STC203620 Cooper the Gipsy, engraved by P. Roberts, published 1822 (colour litho) by Cruikshank, Isaac Robert (1789-1856) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English

The Famous Battle Between Richard Humphreys and Daniel Mendoza, January 9th 1788, pub
3025368 The Famous Battle Between Richard Humphreys and Daniel Mendoza, January 9th 1788, pub. 1788 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray

Roman boxing scene and three types of Cestus

The last bare-knuckle fight, Farnborough, Hampshire, 17th April 1860 (1951). Contest between the English David, Tom Sayers, and the American Goliath, Heenan

Edwin John
After a brief spell as a middleweight boxer, Edwin John (1905-1978) pursued a career as an artist. Date: 1931

Frank Klause, c. 1910-15 (b/w photo)
746411 Frank Klause, c.1910-15 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Frank Klaus (1887-1948) was an American boxer of German descent from 1904 to 1918

Bare-knuckle boxing in the 19th century. Aka bare-knuckle, prizefighting, or fisticuffs
745839 Bare-knuckle boxing in the 19th century. Aka bare-knuckle, prizefighting, or fisticuffs, it was the original form of boxing

Decoration on an ox cart depicting Muay Thai (paint on wood)
LIT389999 Decoration on an ox cart depicting Muay Thai (paint on wood) by Thai School; (add.info.: Muay Thai is a form of Thai boxing; ); Photo © Luca Tettoni

Willie Ritchie sailing to London to face Freddie Welsh, 1914 (b / w photo)
5848195 Willie Ritchie sailing to London to face Freddie Welsh, 1914 (b/w photo) by Bain, George Grantham - Bain News Service (1865-1944); Private Collection; (add.info)

Plate 340. Boxing; Open Hand, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950324 Plate 340. Boxing; Open Hand, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 23.3x32.4 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Ned Painter, of Norwich, From a Drawing by George Sharples, 1824 (engraving)
983247 Ned Painter, of Norwich, From a Drawing by George Sharples, 1824 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ned Painter, of Norwich)

John Langan, Irish Champion (engraving)
983246 John Langan, Irish Champion (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: John Langan, Irish Champion)

Jack Randall, "The Nonpareil", From a Miniature by G Sharples (engraving)
983237 Jack Randall, " The Nonpareil", From a Miniature by G Sharples (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jack Randall)

Third Fight between Daniel Mendoza and George Humphries, at Doncaster, 29 September 1790
983221 Third Fight between Daniel Mendoza and George Humphries, at Doncaster, 29 September 1790, From an original Picture (engraving) by English School

Buckhorse, John Smith, 1732-1746, After an Etching by William Hogarth (engraving)
983219 Buckhorse, John Smith, 1732-1746, After an Etching by William Hogarth (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Buckhorse, John Smith, 1732-1746)

A "Fistic Encounter. "(engraving)
1092818 A " Fistic Encounter." (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A " Fistic Encounter." Illustration for Wonders of Bodily Strength)

Front page of Boxiana magazine, 1812 (litho)
PNP379609 Front page of Boxiana magazine, 1812 (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: series of volumes of boxing articles written by Pierce Egan;)

Tom Sayers v. John Heenan at Farnborough, England on 17th April, 1860 (colour litho)
PNP379174 Tom Sayers v. John Heenan at Farnborough, England on 17th April, 1860 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Boxing match between Entellus and Dares (chromolitho)
2782962 Boxing match between Entellus and Dares (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Boxing match between Entellus and Dares)

Cover of Le Petit Journal featuring the Fight between Carpentier and Dempsey
CHT293615 Cover of Le Petit Journal featuring the Fight between Carpentier and Dempsey, 1921 (colour litho) by French School

Isaac Bitton, engraved by P. Roberts, published 1822 (colour litho)
STC203619 Isaac Bitton, engraved by P. Roberts, published 1822 (colour litho) by Cruikshank, Isaac Robert (1789-1856) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English, out of copyright

Plate 332. Boxing; Cross-Buttocks (Shoes), 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950316 Plate 332. Boxing; Cross-Buttocks (Shoes), 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 24.5x29.5 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Plate 334. Boxing; With Gloves (Shoes), 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950318 Plate 334. Boxing; With Gloves (Shoes), 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 29.4x25.7 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Dempsey and Firpo, 1923-24 (litho)
873954 Dempsey and Firpo, 1923-24 (litho) by Bellows, George Wesley (1882-1925); 46.04 x56.83 cm; San Diego Museum of Art, USA; (add.info.: Firpo sending Dempsey outside the ring)

Pugilists, plate 31 from The History of the Nations (aquatint)
STC105291 Pugilists, plate 31 from The History of the Nations (aquatint) by Italian School, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; Italian, out of copyright

Spring & Langan (aquatint)
BSA273461 Spring & Langan (aquatint) by Clements, J. & Pitman, J. (19th century); 82.5x63 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Thomas Winter (known as Tom Spring) (1795-1851)

The Ring, Rules (coloured engraving)
BSA273432 The Ring, Rules (coloured engraving) by English School, (18th century); 62x51 cm; Private Collection; eThe British Sporting Art Trust; English, out of copyright

John L. Sullivan v. Charlie Mitchell on 10th March, 1888 at Chantilly
PNP379194 John L. Sullivan v. Charlie Mitchell on 10th March, 1888 at Chantilly, France (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sullivan (1858-1918)

Tom Molineaux versus Tom Cribb, 28th September, 1811 at Thistleton
PNP379184 Tom Molineaux versus Tom Cribb, 28th September, 1811 at Thistleton, England (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

John Heenan v. Tom Sayers, 17th April, 1860 (colour litho)
PNP379176 John Heenan v. Tom Sayers, 17th April, 1860 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Heenan (1833-73) and Sayers (1826-65)

Boxer, illustration for Olympia by Adolf Boetticher, 1886 (digitally enhanced image)
LLM463894 Boxer, illustration for Olympia by Adolf Boetticher, 1886 (digitally enhanced image) by English School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; © Look and Learn

James J. Corbett, 1894 (b / w photo)
3617850 James J. Corbett, 1894 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: James John Corbettm known as Gentleman Jim (1866-1933)

Thomas Cribb, Champion of England, from the painting by De Wild, 1811 (engraving)
2562177 Thomas Cribb, Champion of England, from the painting by De Wild, 1811 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thomas Cribb (1781 - 1848)

Harry Orme (engraving)
983266 Harry Orme (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Harry Orme. Illustration for Pugilistica The History of British Boxing by Henry Downes Miles)

Nat Langham, From a Painting by Williams (engraving)
983265 Nat Langham, From a Painting by Williams (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nat Langham, From a Painting by Williams)

William Perry, "The Tipton Slasher"(engraving)
983264 William Perry, " The Tipton Slasher" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: William Perry, " The Tipton Slasher")

James Burke, "The Deaf un"(engraving)
983263 James Burke, " The Deaf un" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: James Burke, " The Deaf un")

Benjamin Caunt, Champion, 1842 (engraving)
983262 Benjamin Caunt, Champion, 1842 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Benjamin Caunt, Champion, 1842)

Dick Curtis, "The Pet"(engraving)
983259 Dick Curtis, " The Pet" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dick Curtis, " The Pet")

Samuel Evans, "Young Dutch Sam"(engraving)
983256 Samuel Evans, " Young Dutch Sam" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Samuel Evans, " Young Dutch Sam")

Jem Ward, Champion, From a Painting by Patten, 1826 (engraving)
983252 Jem Ward, Champion, From a Painting by Patten, 1826 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jem Ward, Champion, From a Painting by Patten, 1826)

Tom Oliver, From a Drawing by Wageman (engraving)
983248 Tom Oliver, From a Drawing by Wageman (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tom Oliver, From a Drawing by Wageman)

Tom Springs Monument in Norwood Cemetery (engraving)
983245 Tom Springs Monument in Norwood Cemetery (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tom Springs Monument in Norwood Cemetery)

George Nicholls, From a Drawing by G Sharples (engraving)
983242 George Nicholls, From a Drawing by G Sharples (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: George Nicholls, From a Drawing by G Sharples)

Captain Robert Barclay, Allardyce of Ury, From a Miniature, 1798, Aetatis 19 (engraving)
983241 Captain Robert Barclay, Allardyce of Ury, From a Miniature, 1798, Aetatis 19 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Captain Robert Barclay)

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"Pugilism: A Timeless Art of Strength and Skill" Step back in time to witness the captivating world of pugilism, an ancient combat sport that has left its mark on history. From the powerful strokes captured in Richard Humphreys' 1788 oil painting to the intense gaze of a boxer portrayed in the c. 1800 portrait, this art form has always mesmerized spectators. Georges Carpentier's 1914 sketch cover transports us to a moment frozen in time, where determination and resilience shine through every line. Meanwhile, Cooper the Gipsy's vibrant lithograph from 1822 brings forth a burst of color, showcasing the raw energy pulsating within each fighter. One cannot forget The Famous Battle between Richard Humphreys and Daniel Mendoza on January 9th, 1788 – a legendary clash etched into memory forever. Edwin John's depiction captures their fierce rivalry with unparalleled precision. As we delve deeper into boxing history, we encounter Jack Johnson standing tall beside his first wife; their love story intertwined with his triumphs inside the ring. Frank Klause's black-and-white photograph from c. 1910-15 immortalizes another era when bare-knuckle fights reigned supreme. The last bare-knuckle fight held on April 17th, 1860 in Farnborough, Hampshire serves as a testament to both courage and endurance. This iconic event is brought back to life through an evocative image taken years later but still resonates with intensity. Even further back lies Greek art's contribution – Krater of Thebes dating back to the 7th century BC showcases early forms during geometric times. And who can overlook Muay Thai? Its presence adorning an ox cart reminds us that this noble sport transcends borders and cultures. Bare-knuckle boxing emerged as prizefighting or fisticuffs during the 19th century, captivating audiences with its raw authenticity.