A Horse Attacked by a Lion

Stubbs employed a strong chiaroscuro effect, contrasting illuminated forms with deep shadows to heighten the sense of movement and drama. The rendering of musculature is precise, reflecting his anatomical studies, while the dark, cloud‑filled sky and dim landscape provide a somber backdrop that intensifies the violent action.

The print belongs to a series of lion‑versus‑horse images that Stubby produced in the late eighteenth century, marking an early foray into Romantic subject matter. After changing hands among private collectors, the work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains on display.

Produced during a period when European art was turning toward heightened emotion and the sublime, the piece anticipates Romantic interests in nature’s power and the dramatic. Stubbs’ focus on animal anatomy aligns with Enlightenment scientific inquiry, while the violent narrative reflects the era’s fascination with the extraordinary and the terrifying.