23-04-2025
Commemorative George Stubbs horse sculptures to be auctioned
Eight horse sculptures, created for George Stubbs' 300th birthday celebrations last year, are set to be auctioned this week.
The sculptures, half of which are life-size, were part of a Stubbs Trail around North Lincolnshire - the area where Stubbs conducted his anatomical studies, which, according to a spokesperson, "would revolutionise the way the horse was depicted in art - some of the most gruesome work ever undertaken by an English artist."
Stubbs, an 18th-century equestrian artist, began to acquire his dissecting skills in Liverpool while working with his father, who was a currier (a specialist leather-worker).
He further developed these skills at the County Hospital in York, where he studied anatomy, dissecting and drawing human cadavers.
In 1756, Stubbs moved to a farmhouse near Horkstow, where he spent 18 months dissecting horse bodies, drawing and recording his findings.
This gruesome work led to a new understanding of horse anatomy, resulting in some of the most accurate horse pictures ever painted.
His knowledge was shared in his book, The Anatomy of the Horse, which was published in 1766.
As part of the Stubbs tercentenary celebrations, North Lincolnshire Council commissioned 20 horse sculptures - ten life-size and ten smaller versions - to create a Stubbs Trail around sites connected to the artist.
Each sculpture is unique, created by a contemporary artist in collaboration with a local school or community group.
The groups were given the choice of keeping their horse or having it sold for charity when the Stubbs celebration ended.
The four life-size horses going under the hammer include Skyscraper, the first sculpture on the Stubbs Trail, which was sited at Baysgarth Park in Barton on Humber.
Standing 15 hands high, Skyscraper was the work of Hull artist Caitlin Smith, assisted by local primary schoolchildren.
The auction also includes Spirit, the work of the Sussex-based equestrian artist Jane Johansson and the Scunthorpe Museum Society Art Group.
The largest of the sculptures to be auctioned is George - the work of Gillian Higgins, an expert in equine anatomy.
George stands 83 inches tall.
Auctioneer Paul Potter said: "The horses are jaw-droppingly impressive sculptures that have fascinated thousands of people who enjoyed the Stubbs Trail during the 300th anniversary celebrations, and they're still impressing here at the saleroom in Messingham.
"The looks on the faces of visitors when they find themselves meeting a life-size horse in reception or around the corner amid the china cabinets have been absolutely priceless."
The sale catalogue is available to view at
The viewing session is at The Old School Saleroom in Messingham on Wednesday, April 23, from 10am to 4pm.
The auction gets underway at 10.30am on Thursday, April 24.
