' Whistlejacket ' George Stubbs (English 1724-1806) Oil on canvas, circa 1762. The National Gallery, London.

George Stubbs (1724-1806) painting depicts 'Whistlejacket' , the Marquess of Rockingham's famous racehorse , rearing up against a blank background . The huge canvas (10x8'), lack of other features , and Stubbs' attention to the minutest details of the horse's appearance give the portrait a huge physical presence .

George Stubbs was classified in his lifetime as a sporting painter, and as such was excluded from full membership of the Royal Academy . He is best remembered for his paintings of horses and his conversation pieces . Having studied anatomy , Stubbs's paintings of horses are among the most accurate ever painted , but his work is lyrical and transcends naturalism.