Zebra
1763
George Stubbs painted this striking zebra in 1763, capturing the very first zebra ever brought to England. The animal, a gift to the Queen from the Earl of Ilchester, became a massive sensation in London, with people flocking to see the exotic 'wild ass of Africa.' Stubbs likely studied the live animal at the Earl's estate, producing one of the most scientifically accurate and beautifully composed animal portraits of the 18th century. Today, this masterpiece of natural history art hangs in the Yale Center for British Art, where it still dazzles viewers with its lifelike presence.
Location: Yale Center for British Art
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