Whistlejacket and Scrub: Two great paintings by George Stubbs

Imagine owning one equine masterpiece and having the opportunity to add a second to your collection.

You probably already know the portrait of ‘Whistlejacket’, a famous racehorse painted for his owner the Marquess of Rockingham. But did you know about ‘Scrub’?

Who? No we had not heard about him either…

Scrub was a bay race horse, also owned by the Marquess of Rockingham. He was painted by Stubbs toward the end of his racing career, after he had returned to the Marquess’s stud. Created around 1762, the striking image shows Scrub rearing against a landscape backdrop, significantly without a rider.

Produced at roughly the same time as the better known ‘Whistlejacket’, it stands among the earliest life-size British portraits to present a horse entirely on its own, without any human presence.

Despite commissioning this other piece, Rockingham ultimately chose not to purchase it. We wonder why?

Whistlejacket and Scrub would look stunning hung together or on opposite sides of a room.

‘Scrub’ is currently hanging in the Stubbs exhibition at the National Gallery. Whistlejacket is nearby in Room 34.

Do you have a favourite?