Stubbs, George (1724-1806) - The Melbourne & Milbanke families 1769-70

Painted between 1769 and 1770, The Melbourne and Milbanke Families is one of George Stubbs's most ambitious and socially significant works — a sweeping conversation piece that brings together two of the great aristocratic families of Georgian England in a single, masterfully composed scene. The Melbournes and Milbankes were connected by marriage and by the world of politics, society, and sport that defined the English upper class in the age of George III. Stubbs places them in the open landscape with the ease and authority of a painter entirely in command of his subject: horses, carriages, figures on foot and on horseback, all arranged with a naturalness that belies the extraordinary compositional skill required to hold so many elements in balance. It is a painting about family, alliance, and the confident display of aristocratic life — and it has never looked better than it does now.

Restoration & Remastering

The original had accumulated the familiar toll of time: yellowed varnish, flattened contrast, and colours far removed from what Stubbs painted in 1769–70. Our work was guided by a single question: what did this painting look like when it first hung in the Melbourne family collection?

• Varnish yellowing removed — the amber cast was lifted, recovering the luminous sky, cleaner landscape greens, and the true colours of the figures' dress and the horses' coats
• Horse anatomy sharpened — muscle definition, neck and shoulder structure, and the individual character of each horse were recovered, honouring Stubbs's anatomical precision
• Figure and costume detail restored — the silks, riding habits, coats, and accessories of the assembled family members were clarified, giving each figure distinct identity and presence within the group
• Carriage and tack detail recovered — the paintwork, metalwork, and harness of the carriage were restored, adding a further layer of period richness to the composition
• Shadow detail reopened — information lost in the darker areas of the horses' coats, the foreground, and the figures in shadow was recovered, restoring genuine three-dimensional form
• Landscape depth corrected — the parkland, middle distance, and horizon were separated and clarified, dramatically increasing the sense of space and English air
• Sky drama enhanced — cloud volume increased, tonal range expanded, and the quality of afternoon light recovered so the sky feels open, luminous, and alive
• Dynamic range increased — richer blacks, brighter highlights, and stronger colour separation, while fully respecting the character of the original

Perfect for cCollectors of Georgian portraiture and sporting art, country houses, and anyone captivated by the elegance, ambition, and social world of 18th-century English aristocratic life.

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