Stubbs Talk at the Mauritshuis Museum

George Stubbs: The Man, The Horse, The Obsession
20 February – 1 June 2020
Guest speaker

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In partnership with the Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague

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I was invited by the Mauritshuis Museum to contribute as a guest speaker to a public programme accompanying the exhibition George Stubbs: The Man, The Horse, The Obsession.

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The talk brought together curatorial, scientific and artistic perspectives on Stubbs’s work, alongside Mauritshuis curator Lea van der Vinde and biologist Janna Horjus, moderated by Milouska Meulens.

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Curatorial contribution

My contribution focused on the continued relevance of Stubbs’s work within contemporary equine art. Rather than looking at the work purely as historical reference, the conversation opened up how his approach to observation, structure and attention still informs how equine subjects are understood and developed today.

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Context

The programme was presented to a full audience, reflecting the ongoing public interest in the relationship between horses and visual culture. It formed part of a wider exhibition exploring Stubbs’s work as both artist and anatomist.

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Public programme

Alongside the talk, visitors could take part in anatomical drawing workshops led by equine artist Catharina Driessen. These sessions explored the structures beneath the horse’s form and connected directly to the questions that defined Stubbs’s lifelong investigation.

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Quote

'You could almost call Joyce Ter Horst the horse whisperer of the 21st century. As the founder of Paard Verzameld, she has a unique knowledge of the area where art meets horses.'
— Mauritshuis Museum, The Netherlands

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Credits

George Stubbs: The Man, The Horse, The Obsession
Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague
20 February – 1 June 2020

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Photos: Remco van der Kruis (Proper Pictures) and Fred Ernst (Mauritshuis)

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If you recognise the importance of context and interpretation in equine art, it may be time to work with a curator.

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