In focus: George Stubbs

Explore the life and work of George Stubbs, from Enlightenment science to his groundbreaking equestrian portraits, including ‘Whistlejacket’ and ‘Scrub’, in dialogue with the exhibition ‘Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse’.

The British painter George Stubbs dedicated his career to close and accurate observation of nature, particularly of horses. His studies are still some of the most accurate ever painted, and his portrait of ‘Whistlejacket’ has become one of the most loved paintings in the National Gallery.

During his lifetime he was marginalised as merely a sporting painter. However, his dedication to painting from life challenged 18th-century trends and set him apart from many of his contemporaries, elevating the genre of horse painting to portraiture of magnificent celebrated animals.

In the first half of the session you will look at Stubbs’s life and his relationship to Enlightenment science. Looking beyond his famous painting of horses, we explore the fascinating tangent his career took with Josiah Wedgwood, the innovative designer and manufacturer of pottery. In the second half, you will explore his most famous painting, ‘Whistlejacket’ and the equestrian paintings he made for the Marquess of Rockingham, including the monumental ‘Scrub.’

Join us to learn how Stubbs was able to capture the unique characters of these horses with such detail, and how he changed the course of equine art forever.

Dr Matthew Morgan is a freelance art historian, educator and museum professional. Until recently he was the Museum Director of Turner's House, and he is also an Associate Lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London. He has worked in the heritage sector for over 10 years, including at the Royal Collection, the National Gallery and the Wallace Collection. Prior to that he was a Director in Christie’s Valuation Department. He has contributed to TV documentaries, podcasts, radio shows and has lectured widely across the country and made a series of short films which can be seen on YouTube.

Can't make the session but don't want to miss out? No problem, you can watch again.

The session is recorded and made available to you for 2 weeks.

A video of the week's lecture will be uploaded and available for you to watch via your National Gallery account on Friday.

This is an online ticketed course hosted on Zoom. Please book a ticket to access the course.

Only one ticket can be booked per account.

You will be emailed an E-ticket with instructions on how to access the course via your National Gallery account. All course information including your Zoom link, weekly handouts, and recordings will be available here.