The Anatomy of the Horse

About this book

George Stubbs was one of the most original artists Britain has produced, and it is easy to forget how much his success was based on rigorous scientific observation. In 1756, he rented a farmhouse where he erected scaffolding to hold the cadavers of horses as he dissected and drew. After 18 months, Stubbs produced the drawings for The Anatomy of the Horse, which he later etched. The result was sensational. Scientists from all over Europe sent their congratulations, amazed at the perfection of the work. The Anatomy of the Horse remained a textbook for artists and scientists for over a century, and its strange, spare beauty continues to fascinate.

This edition is taken from the 1853 printing, the last to use Stubbs' original plates. The full Stubbs' commentary is included for the veterinarian-minded. Extensive texts by Constance Anne Parker and Oliver Kase place Stubbs' work in the context of his life and times, and of 18th-century medical science.

Contents

- Introduction, by Constance-Anne Parker, p. 5
- Make the Knife Go With the Pencil, by Oliver Kase, p. 13
- The Anatomy of the Horse, by George Stubbs, p. 23

Customer Reviews

Biography

George Stubbs (1724-1806) was one of the most original artists Britain has produced. Far from being merely a horse painter, Stubbs' perfectionism and passion transformed the possibilities of nature painting. His extraordinary dedication to accuracy caused him to spend eighteen solitary months dissecting and drawing horses to make his book, The Anatomy of the Horse, a landmark in the study of anatomy and used by artists and scientists alike long after Stubbs' death.