In the 18th century, the British elite were passionate about horse racing, and the ultimate tribute for a winning horse was to have its portrait painted by George Stubbs. Much like Edwin Henry Landseer, who later became famous for his dog portraits, Stubbs was celebrated for capturing the distinct personalities of horses, thanks to his thorough anatomical studies. Recent interest from collectors has revived Stubbs’s renown, and his horse portraits not only showcase their physical beauty but also detail their racing achievements. But which of Stubbs’s equine subjects was the finest? Here is a personal ranking based on their victories and the way Stubbs captured their essence.
11: Firetail. Painted in 1773, Stubbs depicted Firetail with the striking muscles of the bay horse visible beneath its coat, hinting at its speed. While Firetail’s racing career was short-lived, it was successful. Judy Egerton’s book, ‘George Stubbs, Painter’, highlights the financial troubles of Firetail’s owners, the Foley brothers, quoting a letter from Horace Walpole: ‘Can you believe that Lord Foley’s two sons have borrowed money so extravagantly, that the interest they have contracted to pay, amounts to eighteen thousand pounds a year?’
10: Skyscraper. In the 1790s, Stubbs painted Skyscraper, a horse with notably long legs, descended from Highflyer. At the time, a ‘skyscraper’ referred to a tall sail on a ship. Despite the sparse landscape in the painting, Skyscraper enjoyed a consistent five-season career, including a win at the prestigious King’s Plate.
9: Pumpkin. Pumpkin’s portrait played a significant role in reviving Stubbs’s reputation, particularly through the interest of Paul Mellon, who founded the Yale Center for British Art. Pumpkin himself was a champion, winning 16 races and famously defeating the crowd favorite Denmark by half a neck.
8: Lustre. The 1762 painting of Lustre, housed at the Yale Center for British Art, depicts a horse with an agitated demeanor. Owned by Lord Bolingbroke, Lustre was painted following a victory over Jolter, owned by the Duke of Cumberland, in a four-mile race in 1760, reflecting Stubbs’s deep anatomical understanding.
7: Gimcrack. Lady Sarah Bunbury praised Gimcrack as ‘the sweetest horse’ after its win at a highly wagered Newmarket race. Stubbs’s painting is notable for depicting Gimcrack twice, illustrating both the race and the stable, set against a stark landscape. Gimcrack’s posthumous fame was cemented when a 1765 Stubbs painting sold for £22.4 million at auction in 2011, decades after Gimcrack won 28 of his 36 races.
