George Stubbs (1724-1806) (after)
George Townly Stubbs (1756-1815) (engraver)
Two Hunters
George Townly Stubbs, London: January 1792
Mezzotint with later hand color
13.25 x 18.25 inches, image
15.75 x 19.5 inches, overall
$1,500
Two Hunters
George Stubbs 18th Century Mezzotint
George Stubbs 18th Century Mezzotint
A portrait of two horses in the English countryside by a large tree. It is based on a painting by the preeminent British horse artist of the 18th century, George Stubbs. The print shows bay and chestnut hunters belonging to Henry Urick Reay, and was published and engraved by Stubbs’s son, George Townly Stubbs with a dedication to Reay inscribed below the title. George Townly Stubbs sold both ordinary impressions and color-printed impressions of this print. Two Hunters is a pair to Stubbs’ Two Hacks (Lennox-Boyd Item 94). The original oil painting is now in the South African National Gallery, Sir Abe Bailey Collection.
George Stubbs, an eminent animal painter, engraver and painter in enamel, combined science and art by painting his subjects with anatomical precision. He did extensive studies of horse anatomy to prepare himself as the premier artist of equine life. In his early twenties, Stubbs studied anatomy under a surgeon in York, and drew dissections for doctors. After a visit to Rome and a period of residence in Liverpool, he made his way to London in 1760. In 1766, he published his monumental series of engravings, Anatomy of the Horse, which cemented his reputation as a master of the subject. His vast range of paintings include the prize horses of England of the late 18th century, often with their proud owners or trainers, as well as other animals such as lions, sometimes shown in natural settings with horses. Stubbs served as president of the Society of Artists in 1773 and although he had his quarrels with the Royal Academy, he apparently was made an Associate. His works are in the world’s major museums, with a large number represented in the Yale Center for British Art (Paul Mellon Collection). The greatest engravers and printers of the day were engaged to render numerous Stubbs horse pictures as prints, including his own son, the printmaker George Townly Stubbs (sometimes spelled “Townley”).
Inscription below image, with Reay’s coat of arms: “Two Hunters. Belonging to Henry U. Reay of Burn Hall in the County of Durham, Esq’r. to whom this Plate is Dedicated by his much Obliged H’ble Ser. Geo. Townly Stubbs. London Pubd. Jany. 1792 by Geo. Townly Stubbs No. 14 John Street Adelphi.”
Condition: Generally good but with various defects commonly encountered with separately issued horse and sporting prints, all now professionally conserved: few short marginal tears, some extending slightly into image, small section of right lower margin with long diagonal tear, vertical crease through center of image where once folded, scattered soft creases, some overall wear to mezzotint ink, some scattered minor foxing or spotting, margins a bit short but ample. Later hand coloring.
References:
Lennox-Boyd, Christopher, et al. George Stubbs: The Complete Engraved Works. London: Stipple Publishing Limited, 1989. Item 95, p. 229.
Maxted, Ian. "The London book trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members." Exeter Working Papers in British Book Trade History. U.K.: Devon Library and Information Services. 24 January 2005. http://www.devon.gov.uk/library/locstudy/bookhist/lonn.html (Orme) (6 April 2005).
Williamson, George C., ed. Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers. London: G. Bell and Sons: 1930. Vol. 5, pp. 139-140 (Stubbs).