George Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse coming to National Gallery
A “monumental painting” of a rearing Horse by George Stubbs will go on display between 12 March and 31 May next year. The only life-size horse portrait painted by Stubbs still in a private collection will be in a new exhibition devoted to the painter.
It has only ever once been seen before on public display, depicting Scrubs, a bay horse that belonged to the Marquess of Rockingham around 1762. It will be joined by other paintings and works on paper by Stubbs.
“Visitors will also be able to draw comparisons with the artist’s masterpiece Whistlejacket (about 1762), in the National Gallery’s collection, which will be on display nearby in Room 34,” the National Gallery said. “The two equine portraits were painted in the same year for the Marquess of Rockingham (1730–82), who owned both of these former racehorses. He would subsequently decide not to purchase the painting of Scrub.”
The two are the first large as life portraits of horses depicted without a rider in British art, showing how, in the latter half of the 18th Century, George Stubs would “change equine painting for future generations through his keen observation and anatomical studies.”
Stubbs spent 18 months between 1756-58 studying and drawing the anatomy of horses in a remote barn in Horkstow in Lincolnshire. There he carried out meticulous dissections, carefully removing layers of skin and muscle, recording minute details as he went along. This resulted in some of the most detailed images of the subject ever recorded in Britain.
This makes the pictures by George Stubbs some of the most accurate ever painted, though he did take some artistic license in his finished works to reflect the character of individual animals.
Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.
Follow us on:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!
We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!
