Horse Attacked by a Lion 1768 - 1769

George Stubbs painted this "Horse Attacked by a Lion" in oil on canvas, capturing a popular theme of the late 18th century. These images gained traction in a period when Britain's imperial reach was expanding, and lions began to appear more frequently as exotic spectacles in private menageries. This painting isn't just about the spectacle of nature; it also reflects the social structures of its time. Stubbs was part of the Royal Academy, an institution that aimed to elevate British art. But his choice to depict animal anatomy with such scientific accuracy challenged traditional artistic hierarchies. Horses, unlike historical or mythological subjects, were considered lower in the hierarchy of genres. To fully understand this work, we can consult scientific treatises, travel narratives, and exhibition records. By situating art within its broader cultural and institutional context, we see how it participates in, and sometimes critiques, the norms of its era.