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Student Artwork Guide

James Stanley

George Stubbs, 1755

Name Class Date
George Stubbs, James Stanley (1755). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
George Stubbs originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/george-stubbs/
Artist’s dates
1724 – 1806
Painted
1755
Movement
Neoclassicism A deliberate return to the calm balance and clear outlines of ancient Greek and Roman art.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. George Stubbs died in 1806; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1876.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

James Stanley — George Stubbs Part 1 · The artwork

In context

James Stanley — George Stubbs

When was this painted?

  1. 1720
  2. 1730
  3. 1740
  4. 1750
  5. 1760
  6. 1770
  7. 1780
  8. 1790
  9. 1800

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 82 at death.

Painted when the artist was 31. The artist lived to 82. 2 of the 136 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of George Stubbs (1724–1806) ▲ this work, 1755 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1765 Main working years: 1765–1785 Late works: from 1785

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/george-stubbs-james-stanley-AQZC2M-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Espresso #504639

    Catalogued palette

    • #504639
    • #AD5F3D
    • #DDC19F
    • #3C352D

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Espresso
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by George Stubbs over the last twelve months — 12 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 66.7%
    2. 2 United States of America 15.4%
    3. 3 Singapore 5.7%
    4. 4 Hong Kong 4.1%
    5. 5 Canada 1.6%
    6. 6 Guatemala 1.6%
    7. 7 Australia 0.8%
    8. 8 Brazil 0.8%
    9. 9 Colombia 0.8%
    10. 10 Italy 0.8%
    11. · 2 other countries 1.7%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by George Stubbs

    1. 1 A Bay Hunter With Two Spaniels, 1777 19.0%
    2. 2 The Grosvenor Hunt, 1762 3.4%
    3. 3 Lion Attacking a Horse, 1765 2.7%
    4. 4 Horse Frightened by a Lion, 1770 2.7%
    5. 5 Finished study for, 1758 2.7%
    6. 6 Molly Long-legs with her Jockey, 1762 2.0%
    7. 7 Firetail with his Trainer by the Rubbing-Down House on Newmarket Heath, 1773 2.0%
    8. 8 Lord Grosvenor, 1765 2.0%
    9. 9 Rhinoceros, 1792 2.0%
    10. 10 The Prince of Wales, 1793 2.0%
    11. 11 Joseph Smyth Esquire, Lieutenant of Whittlebury Forest, Northamptonshire, on a Dapple Grey Horse, 1764 2.0%
    12. 12 The Lincolnshire Ox, 1790 1.4%
    13. 13 James Stanley, 1755 1.4%
    14. 14 Harvest, 1785 1.4%
    15. 15 Tiger, 1771 1.4%
    16. 16 Freeman, The Earl of Clarendon's Gamekeeper, with a Dying Doe and Hound, 1800 1.4%
    17. 17 Mares and Foals in a River Landscape, 1768 1.4%
    18. 18 George Fothergill of York (1689–1770), 1746 1.4%
    19. 19 'Molly Long Legs' with Her Jockey, 1762 1.4%
    20. — James Stanley, 1755 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 53.7% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 194 works by this artist, of which 71 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    James Stanley — George Stubbs Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    George Stubbs

    Born in Liverpool, United Kingdom

    early life and training

    george stubbs, a renowned english painter, was born on august 25, 1724, in liverpool, united kingdom. his early life was marked by a sparse record of his activities until the age of 35, with most information sourced from ozias humphry's memoirs, based on conversations with stubbs in 1794. stubbs began his artistic journey at the age of 15, initially working under his father, a currier or leather-dresser. he later approached hamlet winstanley, a lancashire painter and engraver, for a brief apprenticeship. this short stint allowed him to study the collection at knowsley hall.

    artistic development and notable works

    stubbs's passion for anatomy led him to move to york in 1744, where he studied under surgeon charles atkinson at york county hospital. one of his earliest surviving works is a set of illustrations for john burton's textbook on midwifery, published in 1751. in 1756, stubbs rented a farmhouse in lincolnshire and spent 18 months dissecting horses, assisted by his common-law wife, mary spencer. this led to the publication of the anatomy of the horse in 1766, with original drawings now housed at the royal academy. stubbs's work was soon recognized by leading aristocratic patrons, including the 3rd duke of richmond, who commissioned three large pictures in 1759. this marked the beginning of his successful career, with works produced for several dukes and lords, culminating in the purchase of a house in marylebone, london.

    legacy and notable paintings

    stubbs's most famous work, whistlejacket, a painting of a prancing horse commissioned by the 2nd marquess of rockingham, is now housed at the national gallery in london. this and two other paintings for rockingham break with convention, featuring plain backgrounds.

    whistlejacket, a thoroughbred race horse rising on his hind legs, showcases stubbs's unparalleled skill in capturing the essence of horses.

    stubbs's series of paintings on a lion attacking a horse are early examples of the romantic movement, demonstrating his influence on 18th-century art.

    stubbs's legacy as an equine artist remains unmatched, with his works continuing to inspire and awe art enthusiasts worldwide.

    view stubbs's artwork at https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/george_stubbs

    explore the national gallery in london's collection, featuring stubbs's notable works, at /en/art/show/art-8xyffg-en/

    learn more about stubbs's life and work on wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/george_stubbs

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for James Stanley

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/george-stubbs-james-stanley-AQZC2M-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Stubbs, George. James Stanley. 1755, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-james-stanley-AQZC2M-en/
    APA
    Stubbs, George (1755). James Stanley [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-james-stanley-AQZC2M-en/
    Chicago
    George Stubbs. James Stanley. 1755. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-james-stanley-AQZC2M-en/
    Harvard
    Stubbs, George (1755) James Stanley. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-james-stanley-AQZC2M-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    James Stanley — George Stubbs Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    James Stanley — George Stubbs

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: portrait, male figure, formal art. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Lion Attacking a Horse (1765), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    James Stanley — George Stubbs Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    How is the color composition of "James Stanley" by George Stubbs built?

    The color composition of "James Stanley" by George Stubbs combines a gentle contrast with a strong color unity harmony.

    Who is the artist behind "James Stanley"?

    The artist behind "James Stanley" is George Stubbs. The work is catalogued under George Stubbs's name.

    What color saturation does "James Stanley" by George Stubbs have?

    The palette of "James Stanley" is subtle color in saturation.