Mares and foals are anxious before a looming storm 1765

George Stubbs painted this piece, ‘Mares and foals are anxious before a looming storm’, with oil on canvas. The composition is dominated by the horizontal lines of the landscape and the verticality of the horses, creating a sense of stillness. Yet, this tranquility is disrupted by the storm clouds gathering overhead, introducing a dynamic tension. Stubbs’s meticulous attention to anatomical detail is evident in the rendering of the horses, each muscle and sinew precisely defined. This scientific approach aligns with the Enlightenment’s emphasis on empirical observation. However, the painting also operates on a symbolic level. The impending storm can be interpreted as a signifier of unseen forces. The animals exhibit behaviours such as nuzzling and huddling which add an emotional depth that transcends mere anatomical study. Ultimately, the painting invites us to consider the interplay between order and chaos. The serene landscape, with its structured composition, is destabilized by the looming storm, echoing broader philosophical concerns about nature, reason, and the sublime.