Lustre, held by a Groom c. 1762

Here we see George Stubbs's painting of "Lustre, held by a Groom" with oil on canvas, presenting a seemingly straightforward depiction that warrants deeper inspection. The composition is immediately striking: the figures are set against a muted, almost neoclassical backdrop. The colour palette is deliberately restrained. The subdued greens and browns of the landscape complement the horse’s coat and the groom’s attire, creating a harmonious yet somewhat melancholic atmosphere. Stubbs' approach destabilizes the conventional art of portraiture. He elevates the animal to the main subject, reflecting broader shifts in how we interpret and assign value, not just to nature but within systems of representation itself. The meticulous detailing of the horse’s anatomy, rendered with almost scientific precision, underscores a fascination with form and structure. Note how Stubbs has deliberately employed symmetry to convey a sense of order and rationality, yet the subtle tension between the human and animal disrupts any fixed interpretation. This is less a celebration of ownership and more an exploration of the aesthetic and philosophical implications of representation.