Foxhound

A lean hound with a white and tan coat stands sideways, its body turned to show the full length of its frame against a stretch of open brown earth. Behind it, calm water meets a line of dark trees, and the sky above is a clear, even blue. The animal holds a steady pose, as if caught in a moment of rest between activity. This piece was created in 1760 using oil on paper that was later mounted on board, and it is now held at the Yale Center for British Art. George Stubbs, the artist behind the work, was known for his close study of animals in paint. One detail worth noting is how the pale tones of the hound stand apart sharply from the deep shadows of the trees behind it, giving the figure a clear outline against the landscape.