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 topimpressionists.com/en/artists/george-stubbs/
Artist’s dates
1724 – 1806
Painted
1762
Medium
Oil On Canvas
Original size
292 x 246 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
Gold frame, blowing mane, dynamic motion
Subject or theme
Portrait of a horse

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: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Whistlejacket — George Stubbs

How big is it?

The original measures 292 × 246 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: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/george-stubbs-whistlejacket-AQRMQG-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Driftwood #a78956

    Catalogued palette

    • #A78956
    • #F9F8F5
    • #452815
    • #7C683C

    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
    Driftwood
    Intensity
    Balanced 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
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft 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 18.8%
    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 Tiger, 1771 2.7%
    6. 6 Finished study for, 1758 2.7%
    7. 7 Molly Long-legs with her Jockey, 1762 2.0%
    8. 8 Firetail with his Trainer by the Rubbing-Down House on Newmarket Heath, 1773 2.0%
    9. 9 Lord Grosvenor, 1765 2.0%
    10. 10 Rhinoceros, 1792 2.0%
    11. 11 The Prince of Wales, 1793 2.0%
    12. 12 Joseph Smyth Esquire, Lieutenant of Whittlebury Forest, Northamptonshire, on a Dapple Grey Horse, 1764 2.0%
    13. 13 The Lincolnshire Ox, 1790 1.3%
    14. 14 James Stanley, 1755 1.3%
    15. 15 Harvest, 1785 1.3%
    16. 16 Freeman, The Earl of Clarendon's Gamekeeper, with a Dying Doe and Hound, 1800 1.3%
    17. 17 Mares and Foals in a River Landscape, 1768 1.3%
    18. 18 George Fothergill of York (1689–1770), 1746 1.3%
    19. 19 'Molly Long Legs' with Her Jockey, 1762 1.3%
    20. — Whistlejacket, 1762 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 54.1% 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: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs

    The Spirit of Motion: A Masterpiece of Equine Elegance

    In the grand tradition of British sporting art, few works capture the raw vitality and anatomical precision of George Stubbs quite like Whistlejacket. This monumental portrait, dating back to 1762, transcends a mere depiction of an animal; it is a profound study of power, grace, and the untamed spirit of nature. The painting presents a magnificent brown horse, its head tossed upward in a moment of exhilarating movement, as if caught mid-stride during a gallop across an expansive field. The artist’s ability to render the muscular tension of the horse's neck and the fluid motion of its wind-swept mane creates a sense of kinetic energy that feels almost palpable to the viewer. As the subject moves forward, the composition balances the intense focus on the central figure with a vast, atmospheric sky that provides a breathtaking sense of depth and perspective.

    The technical brilliance of this piece lies in Stubbs’s unparalleled dedication to anatomical accuracy. Having spent years studying equine anatomy through meticulous dissection, Stubbs possessed an intimate understanding of the skeletal and muscular structures beneath the skin. This scientific rigor is seamlessly blended with an artistic sensitivity that elevates the work from a biological study to a poetic masterpiece. The subtle play of light across the horse's chestnut coat, the delicate textures of the mane, and the soft, ethereal quality of the background sky all demonstrate a mastery of oil painting technique. For the discerning collector or interior designer, this work offers a sophisticated focal point that commands attention through its sheer scale and technical excellence.

    Beyond its physical beauty, Whistlejacket carries a profound emotional resonance. There is an inherent nobility in the horse's posture—a sense of freedom and unbridled strength that speaks to the human desire for liberation and natural splendor. The absence of a detailed landscape, replaced by a minimalist, atmospheric backdrop, ensures that the viewer’s gaze remains locked onto the subject, fostering a deep, almost spiritual connection with the animal. This piece serves as an exquisite inspiration for any high-end interior, particularly in spaces where one wishes to evoke themes of heritage, classical elegance, and the enduring majesty of the natural world. To possess a reproduction of such a legendary work is to bring a fragment of art history’s most triumphant equine portrait into one's own sanctuary.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 27, 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

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/george-stubbs-whistlejacket-AQRMQG-en/

    Cite this artwork

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

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 27, 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 portrait, animal anatomy, equine art. 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: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

    Whistlejacket — George Stubbs Part 5 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Is "Whistlejacket" a good gift idea?

    As a present, "Whistlejacket" by George Stubbs is suggested for corporate gift. Other occasions can fit as well.

    At what age did George Stubbs make "Whistlejacket"?

    George Stubbs was 38 years old when creating "Whistlejacket" in 1762. The age is computed from the artist's birth year, 1724.

    Where can I see a preview of "Whistlejacket"?

    The Preview page of "Whistlejacket" lets you preview the artwork before ordering.