Eclipse 

George Stubbs made this painting of a racehorse, Eclipse, sometime in the late 18th century. Stubbs was celebrated for his anatomical accuracy in depicting horses, and Eclipse was a particularly famous animal. The image is fascinating because it tells us so much about the social history of Britain. Horse racing was hugely popular with the aristocracy, and owning a successful racehorse was a symbol of wealth and status. But the painting also hints at the role of enslaved people in this economy. The two young men holding the horse are likely stable boys, and their clothing suggests they may have been employed by the horse's owner. To understand the painting fully, we can look at stud books and racing records to find out more about Eclipse and his owners. We can also research the history of slavery in Britain and its colonies, to understand the full context in which this image was made. Art history reminds us that artworks are always products of their time, shaped by social and economic forces.