Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Whistlejacket

George Stubbs, 1762

Name Class Date
George Stubbs, Whistlejacket (1762). 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
1762
Medium
Oil
Original size
325 x 259 cm
Movement
Realism Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander.
Period
Early Modern
Artistic style
Realism
Notable elements
Motion, wind-blown mane, patterned wall
Subject or theme
Horse in motion

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. 24, 2026

Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Whistlejacket — George Stubbs

How big is it?

The original measures 325 × 259 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height. It is too large to draw to scale on this page.

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 38. The artist lived to 82. 9 of the 136 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of George Stubbs (1724–1806) ▲ this work, 1762 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-whistlejacket-8LHVZW-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Quinacridone Magenta #95533c

    Catalogued palette

    • #95533C
    • #E2A075
    • #C47D58
    • #4E2218

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

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Quinacridone Magenta
    Intensity
    Vivid 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
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence 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 17.4%
    2. 2 The Grosvenor Hunt, 1762 3.5%
    3. 3 Lion Attacking a Horse, 1765 2.8%
    4. 4 Horse Frightened by a Lion, 1770 2.8%
    5. 5 Finished study for, 1758 2.8%
    6. 6 Molly Long-legs with her Jockey, 1762 2.1%
    7. 7 Firetail with his Trainer by the Rubbing-Down House on Newmarket Heath, 1773 2.1%
    8. 8 Lord Grosvenor, 1765 2.1%
    9. 9 Rhinoceros, 1792 2.1%
    10. 10 The Prince of Wales, 1793 2.1%
    11. 11 Joseph Smyth Esquire, Lieutenant of Whittlebury Forest, Northamptonshire, on a Dapple Grey Horse, 1764 2.1%
    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. — Whistlejacket, 1762 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 53.1% 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. 24, 2026

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs

    The Spirit of Motion: A Masterpiece of Equine Anatomy

    In the grand tradition of British sporting art, few works command the room with as much raw vitality and anatomical precision as George Stubbs’s Whistlejacket. Painted in 1762, this monumental canvas transcends the boundaries of a mere portrait, offering instead a breathtaking study of power, grace, and kinetic energy. The subject, a magnificent bay Thoroughbred, is captured in a moment of suspended animation, galloping across a space that feels both intimate and infinite. With its muscular frame rippling under a sleek coat and a white blaze cutting through the rich brown tones of its face, the horse emerges from the canvas with a lifelike presence that has captivated viewers for over two and a half centuries.

    Stubbs’s technique is nothing short of revolutionary. Eschewing the traditional pastoral backgrounds of his contemporaries, he places Whistlejacket against a minimalist, patterned backdrop that serves to push the subject forward, creating an almost three-dimensional effect. This stylistic choice directs the eye entirely toward the horse's form, highlighting the subtle play of light on its musculature and the rhythmic flow of its mane and tail. The artist’s deep understanding of anatomy—honed through his rigorous and often controversial studies of equine dissection—allows him to render every tendon and sinew with scientific accuracy, yet he imbues the work with a poetic soul that prevents it from feeling like a mere medical diagram.

    A Legacy of Elegance for the Discerning Collector

    For the art enthusiast or interior designer, Whistlejacket represents more than just historical significance; it is a cornerstone of classical elegance. The painting’s scale and dramatic composition make it an ideal focal point for sophisticated spaces, such as grand foyers, private libraries, or stately dining rooms. Its color palette, dominated by warm earth tones and rich ochres, provides a sense of timelessness that complements both traditional period decor and contemporary minimalist interiors. The sheer scale of the original work—measuring an imposing 325 x 259 cm—is echoed in the profound emotional impact it delivers, evoking feelings of strength, nobility, and the untamed beauty of nature.

    Owning a high-quality reproduction of this masterpiece allows one to invite the prestige of the 18th-century English sporting tradition into a modern home. Whether you are drawn to the historical narrative of George Stubbs’s anatomical genius or the sheer aesthetic splendor of the Thoroughbred in motion, this piece serves as an enduring symbol of excellence. It is an investment in atmosphere, providing a window into an era where art and science converged to celebrate the magnificent spirit of the animal kingdom.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 24, 2026

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 3 · About this artwork

    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 Whistlejacket

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/george-stubbs-whistlejacket-8LHVZW-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Stubbs, George. Whistlejacket. 1762, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-whistlejacket-8LHVZW-en/
    APA
    Stubbs, George (1762). Whistlejacket [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-whistlejacket-8LHVZW-en/
    Chicago
    George Stubbs. Whistlejacket. 1762. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-whistlejacket-8LHVZW-en/
    Harvard
    Stubbs, George (1762) Whistlejacket. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/george-stubbs-whistlejacket-8LHVZW-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 24, 2026

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Whistlejacket — 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. Our catalogue files this work under: horse, animal portrait, equine. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. 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.
    5. Realism: Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander. Where can you see that in this work?

    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. 24, 2026

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 5 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What is the art-historical place of "Whistlejacket" by George Stubbs?

    "Whistlejacket" by George Stubbs belongs to the Realism movement, within the Early-Modern period. Together they give the work its place in art history.

    What technique and style characterize "Whistlejacket" by George Stubbs?

    In "Whistlejacket", the oil technique meets the Realism movement.

    What technique was used for "Whistlejacket" by George Stubbs?

    The medium of "Whistlejacket" by George Stubbs is oil. Reproductions aim to render the appearance of this technique.