The Farmer’s Wife and the Raven 1786

George Stubbs’s “The Farmer’s Wife and the Raven,” painted in 1786, depicts a woman riding a white horse, thrown from the saddle and losing her basket of eggs. The woman’s precarious situation is further emphasized by a large raven perched on a branch overhead, suggesting an ominous foreshadowing of misfortune. Stubbs, known for his detailed anatomical renderings of animals, showcases his mastery in this painting by capturing the horse’s powerful muscles and the raven’s keen gaze with realistic precision. The painting’s depiction of a simple rural incident imbues it with a timeless quality, making it a captivating study of human and animal interaction.