{"product_id":"stubbs-george-1724-1806-huntsmen-setting-out-from-southill-1763-8-copy","title":"Stubbs, George (1724-1806) - John Musters \u0026 Rev Storey 1771","description":"\u003cp\u003ePainted in 1771, \u003cem\u003eJohn Musters and the Reverend Storey\u003c\/em\u003e is one of George Stubbs's most quietly compelling double portraits — two gentlemen on horseback, at ease in the English landscape, their horses rendered with the anatomical mastery that made Stubbs the most sought-after equestrian painter of his age. John Musters of Colwick Hall, Nottinghamshire, was a prominent figure in the Midlands sporting world, and this commission speaks to the deep bond between Stubbs and the landed gentry who were his greatest patrons. The composition is intimate without being small: two men, two horses, a sweep of English parkland, and a sky that Stubbs has made entirely his own. It is a painting about companionship, status, and the pleasures of the English countryside — and it has never looked better than it does now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRestoration \u0026amp; Remastering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original had accumulated the familiar toll of time: yellowed varnish, flattened contrast, and colours far removed from what Stubbs painted in 1771. Our work was guided by a single question: \u003cem\u003ewhat did this painting look like when it first hung at Colwick Hall?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarnish yellowing removed\u003c\/strong\u003e — the amber cast was lifted, recovering the cooler tones of the sky, cleaner greens of the parkland, and the true colours of the gentlemen's coats and horses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHorse anatomy sharpened\u003c\/strong\u003e — muscle definition, neck and shoulder structure, and the individual character of each mount were recovered, honouring Stubbs's anatomical precision\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFigure detail restored\u003c\/strong\u003e — the coats, waistcoats, and riding dress of both men were clarified, giving each figure greater presence and individuality within the composition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShadow detail reopened\u003c\/strong\u003e — information lost in the darker areas of the horses' coats and the foreground was recovered, restoring genuine three-dimensional form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape depth corrected\u003c\/strong\u003e — the parkland, middle distance, and horizon were separated and clarified, dramatically increasing the sense of space and English air\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSky drama enhanced\u003c\/strong\u003e — cloud volume increased, tonal range expanded, and the quality of afternoon light recovered so the sky feels open and alive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoat sheen and texture recovered\u003c\/strong\u003e — the horses' coats gained the sheen, muscle transitions, and subtle colour variation that distinguish a Stubbs horse from any other painter's\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDynamic range increased\u003c\/strong\u003e — richer blacks, brighter highlights, and stronger colour separation, while fully respecting the character of the original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is faithful to Stubbs's composition and intent, but optimized for modern display, large-format printing, and contemporary viewing. It still feels unmistakably like George Stubbs — but with over 250 years of dust, fading, and yellowed varnish stripped away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Collectors Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA rare and intimate Stubbs double portrait — two gentlemen, two horses, and the English landscape at its most serene\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe easy companionship of the figures and the quality of the parkland light make this one of Stubbs's most approachable and human compositions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeticulously restored and remastered to recover the painting's original warmth, colour, and depth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinted on premium archival museum stock for exceptional colour fidelity and longevity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePerfect For\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for equestrian enthusiasts, sporting art collectors, country houses, and anyone drawn to the quiet elegance of 18th-century English portraiture and the landscapes Stubbs made his own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eElliott Best Remastered prints are produced on premium archival museum stock for the finest colour fidelity and longevity.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Elliott Best","offers":[{"title":"Collector 11\" x 14\" \/ 28cm x 36cm","offer_id":47279058714795,"sku":null,"price":79.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallery 18\" x 24\" \/ 46cm x 61cm","offer_id":47279058747563,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Statement 24\" x 36\" \/ 61cm x 90cm","offer_id":47279058780331,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/7621\/8539\/files\/ChatGPT_Image_Jun_24_2026_03_21_25_PM.png?v=1782333678","url":"https:\/\/elliottbest.com\/products\/stubbs-george-1724-1806-huntsmen-setting-out-from-southill-1763-8-copy","provider":"Elliott Best","version":"1.0","type":"link"}