Eclipse at Newmarket with a groom and jockey
1770
George Stubbs, the ultimate horse whisperer of the 18th century, captures the legendary racehorse Eclipse in all his muscular glory here. Painted in 1770, this scene shows the undefeated champion standing calmly beside a simple brick stable, attended by a groom in a blue coat and a jockey striding over in racing red. Stubbs was obsessed with equine anatomy, having dissected horses to understand exactly how their muscles worked, which is why Eclipse looks so incredibly lifelike and powerful. It’s a perfect snapshot of British sporting history, freezing a moment of quiet before the thundering hooves hit the Newmarket track.
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