Gimcrack 1 - 1775

Curator: Here we have "Gimcrack" by George Stubbs, a print, dating to 1770. Editor: It feels quite formal, almost staged, with the horse taking center stage like a prized actor. Curator: Stubbs was famed for his anatomical precision. His paintings and prints often served to celebrate the British gentry and their prized animals. Editor: The horse is so meticulously rendered; it seems to almost leap off the page. But the human figure seems secondary, a prop. Curator: The horse portrait became a powerful symbol of status and wealth. Gimcrack himself was quite the celebrity in his day. Editor: It certainly captures a moment of pride and almost feels as if it is about to gallop away into legend. Curator: Indeed, and now, centuries later, we’re still admiring Gimcrack's celebrated form.