Neoclassicism, Romanticism, and Rococo: George Stubbs (1724-1806)

George Stubbs:

George Stubbs was a British painter of the eighteenth century. He was best known for his paintings of horses and conversation pieces (a type of group portraiture), and established a reputation of the leading painter of horse portraits. This brought him a lot of commissions, including from many noblemen who founded the Jockey Club, a breed registry for Thoroughbred horses in North America that still exists today. From an early age, he had an interest in anatomy and this was a driving force in his career. His paintings of horses are among the most accurate to ever be painted, but his work transcends naturalism. He also painted a variety of other animals, including the lion, tiger, giraffe, monkey, and rhinoceros, marking him as an outstanding animal painter and anatomical draftsman. He knew the importance of observation and anatomical analysis, and believed that nature was superior to art.

George Stubbs’ paintings are fantastically accurate and the way he captures each animals’ emotions through movement and body language is wonderful. I have a high respect for him and his works as I am aware the difficulty of recreating a picture of an animal, especially when animals are not as likely to pose and model as a human would. However, I am most impressed by his use of light and shading to create texture in the animals’ fur and coat. It is startling realistic and I can’t help but be in awe.

Artworks:

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References:

• Gallery, London The National. “George Stubbs.” The National Gallery, The National Gallery, www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/george-stubbs.
• Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “George Stubbs.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 20 Aug. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/George-Stubbs.
• Jockey Club. The Jockey Club, www.jockeyclub.com/Default.asp?section=About&area=0.