THOMAS STOTHARD, R.A. 1 85 



George Stubbs was not addicted to flattery : 

 was perhaps more remarkable for plain speaking 

 than for courtly phrase ; but without the hall-mark 

 of his approval we can see for ourselves, from 

 the facsimile of the first sketch for the Canterbury 

 Pilgrims, given in the above work, with what 

 singular aptitude Stothard in a few pencil strokes 

 caught the characteristic attitudes and movements 

 of the horse. The sketch is the more remarkable, 

 for in no case is an outline horse furnished with 

 ears : an omission which, as every horseman knows, 

 means the denial of a wealth of equine expression 

 and character. This omission perhaps can be ex- 

 plained. It was the common custom to crop the 

 ears of horses in Stothard's time, and the artist 

 depicted what he saw. This work, which is now 

 in the National Gallery, was engraved by the 

 brothers Schiavonetti and also by James Heath. 



Stothard's first Royal Academy picture ("A 

 Holy Family ") was shown at the exhibition of 

 1778, when the artist was in his 23rd year. He 

 was elected an Associate in 1785, and Academician 

 in 1 794, depositing as his diploma work a picture 

 entitled " Charity." His connection with the 

 Academy, however, was destined to become closer, 

 for in 18 10 he was appointed Deputy Librarian, 

 and two years later, Librarian. He exhibited 

 largely ; between 1778 and 1834, he sent upwards 



