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George Stubbs (1724-1806)
George Stubbs, like the renaissance master Leonardo, was fascinated with anatomy and made studies of both human and animal forms. Although Stubbs received very little formal training, he knew enough of anatomy to enable him to teach medical students whilst he was in York and in 1751 he was invited to illustrate a book on midwifery. In 1766 “Anatomy of the Horse” was published.
Stubbs is the original pet portrait artist. To his contemporaries he was a mere horse painter and therefore didn’t enjoy the celebrity of other artists of the period, for example Gainsborough and Reynolds. Stubbs died in 1806 a relatively poor man.
It has only been since the 20th century that Stubbs’ work has been truly appreciated – even now the majority of his paintings hang in private collections; remaining with the families for whom they were originally commissioned. He is described as the first British animal artist to depict animals as they really appeared.
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