This painting looks like a bit of an old nag nearly ready for the glue factory. So where is this going on a Yorkshire blog? Well the nations best and most accurate equine painter of horse flesh learnt his trade in York, Hull and Leeds.
George Stubbs was born into a tanning and leather dressing business but for an early age he wanted to be an artist driven by his fascination of anatomy. At the age of 21 he lived in York and acquired female bodies (some times by grave robbing) to further his study. Thus he developed accurate drawings related to midwifery. They became the core of a book written b Dr John Burton but illustrated in detail by Stubbs. A friend in Leeds helped George to learn engraving as the subject matter deterred other engravers.
After moving to Hull, Stubbs greatest efforts were devoted to the study of horse anatomy. This ultimately led to many famous painting. ‘Whistlejacket ‘ (circa 1762, London, is now in the National Gallery) and ‘Gimcrack with Trainer, a Stable-Lad, and a Jockey on Newmarket Heath’ was sold recently for $35.9 million.
leeds hospital training
york midwifery. access to bodie
york art gallerie
Whistlejacket 2008