192 



GEORGE STUBBS, R.A. 

 (Born 1724. Died 1806.) 



GEORGE STUBBS was born at Liverpool on 

 August 24, 1724. His father, John Stubbs, 

 was a currier, whose business of dressing leather 

 in various colours perhaps afforded the future artist 

 his first lesson in the manipulation of pigments. 

 When scarcely eight years old the boy began 

 the study of anatomy and made drawings from 

 bones and other subjects lent him for the purpose ; 

 and as he evinced no special liking for either the 

 mechanical or clerical sides of his father's business, 

 and was of somewhat delicate constitution, he was 

 allowed to follow the natural bent of his tastes, 

 which were entirely artistic. Before he reached 

 the age of fifteen he had produced pictures which 

 arrested the attention of competent judges, and 

 roused his father to the desirability of giving him 

 an education in art. John Stubbs died before he 

 could take any steps in this direction, and the boy 

 was left to find a master for himself Hamlet 

 Winstanley, an artist of some standing, was at the 

 time making copies of the pictures at Knowsley 



