Stubbs, George (1724-1806) - Soldiers of the 10th Light Dragoons 1793

Painted in 1793, Soldiers of the 10th Light Dragoons reveals a side of George Stubbs that surprises even those who know his work well: the military portrait. The horse is still the star — a magnificent chestnut, rendered with Stubbs's characteristic anatomical precision — but here it shares the canvas with the full pageantry of Georgian military life: the deep navy coats, white crossbelts, gold-yellow saddlecloth, and bearskin hats of one of Britain's most celebrated cavalry regiments. Stubbs painted the uniforms, equipment, and regimental details with the same careful eye he brought to every muscle and tendon of the horse. The result is a painting of extraordinary richness — and it has never looked better than it does now.

Restoration & Remastering

The original had suffered the familiar toll of time: a heavy amber cast, flattened contrast, and colours far removed from what Stubbs painted in 1793. Our work was guided by a single question: what did this painting look like when it was first exhibited?

• Varnish yellowing removed — the amber cast was lifted, recovering true sky blues, cleaner whites, richer navy blues, and more natural chestnut tones; blue uniforms had appeared grey-green, white crossbelts cream-coloured
• Uniform detail recovered — braid work, crossbelts, cuffs, collars, hat decorations, and buttons were restored; these details are historically important because Stubbs painted them with surprising accuracy
• Horse anatomy restored — shoulder musculature, neck definition, chest structure, and hindquarter modelling were recovered so the horse once again feels like a living animal rather than a silhouette
• Saddlecloth and tack recovered — the gold-yellow fabric, decorative edging, regimental insignia, and leather strap detail were brought back; this immediately becomes a focal point of the composition
• Sky colour corrected — blue passages, warm cloud highlights, and subtle atmospheric colour shifts were recovered, dramatically improving depth
• Cloud volume increased — tonal range expanded, highlights enhanced, cloud shadows deepened; the sky now feels monumental
• Horse coat enhanced — richer chestnut colouration, coat sheen, muscle transitions, and reflected light were added, inspired by how Stubbs's best horse paintings look in person
• Figure separation improved — edge clarity, contrast, and colour separation were refined so each soldier now reads individually rather than blending into the group
• Landscape depth expanded — more visible hills, clearer atmospheric perspective, and a stronger horizon line make the painting feel larger and more spacious
• Dynamic range increased — deeper blacks, brighter whites, and cleaner colour relationships, while maintaining an 18th-century appearance throughout

The single biggest transformation is the contrast between the uniforms and the sky. In the original, everything occupies roughly the same tonal range and the figures appear slightly submerged in the atmosphere. In the remaster, the white crossbelts become crisp, the dark bearskin hats gain volume, the blue coats regain authority, and the figures stand proudly against the clouds — exactly as a military portrait is supposed to look.

Throughout, we preserved Stubbs's composition, the proportions of the horse, the military uniforms, and the colour relationships he intended. No modernization. No cinematic effects. No fantasy atmosphere. The result is what we call Museum Restoration Plus: faithful to Stubbs's intent, but optimized for modern display and large-format printing.

Elliott Best Remastered prints are produced on premium archival museum stock for the finest colour fidelity and longevity.