GEORGE STUBBS (1724-1806)
GEORGE STUBBS (1724-1806)
GEORGE STUBBS (1724-1806)
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GEORGE STUBBS (1724-1806)
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GEORGE STUBBS (1724-1806)

Hay-Makers, Reapers

Details
GEORGE STUBBS (1724-1806)
Hay-Makers, Reapers
two stipple engravings with roulette, on laid paper, with watermark, 1791, each Lennox-Boyd's first state (of three), with the titles in open letters, exceptionally rare (no examples of either work are thought to have appeared at auction in the last three decades), engraved and published by the artist, London, each with margins, framed
Each Plate: 19 x 27 in. (483 x 685 mm.)
Largest Sheet: 22 5⁄8 x 31 5⁄8 in. (574 x 801 mm.)
Literature
George Stubbs, The Complete Engraved Work, Lennox-Boyd et al., 89-90

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Nathalie Ferneau
Nathalie Ferneau Head of Sale, Junior Specialist

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Lot Essay

George Stubbs, primarily celebrated for his anatomically precise equine paintings, also created significant works depicting rural laborers engaged in traditional agricultural practices. These lesser-known pieces offer valuable insight into 18th-century English agrarian life during a period of rapid agricultural transformation.

In works such as 'Reapers' and 'Haymakers' (both 1785), Stubbs moves beyond mere documentation to present idealized tableaux of rural industry. Unlike contemporaries who frequently portrayed rustic subjects with sentimentality or condescension, Stubbs imbues his agricultural workers with remarkable dignity and classical poise. His figures adopt poses reminiscent of ancient statuary, elevating manual labor to the realm of the heroic.

Stubbs' technical approach to these scenes mirrors his scientific interest in natural forms. His meticulous attention to the mechanics of bodily movement—evident in his studies of horses—extends to human laborers, capturing the physical demands of agricultural work with unusual accuracy while at the same time transforming their labor into visually appealing compositions.

These works emerge at a pivotal historical moment, as traditional farming practices faced disruption from enclosure and mechanization, making Stubbs' representations not merely artistic achievements but also valuable social documents.

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