Artwork

Captain Samuel Sharpe Pocklington with His Wife, Pleasance, and possibly His Sister, Frances

Captain Samuel Sharpe Pocklington with His Wife, Pleasance, and possibly His Sister, Frances is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist George Stubbs. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

George Stubbs painted this oil on canvas in 1769, presenting a small group set in a wooded lakeside scene. The composition features a man in a military uniform beside a brown horse, accompanied by two women in elaborate eighteenth‑century gowns, all arranged against a backdrop of tall trees and a rocky shore.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is identified as Captain Samuel Sharpe Pocklington, positioned with his wife Pleasance and, likely, his sister Frances. Their attire and the calm demeanor of the horse suggest a genteel domestic tableau, emphasizing familial ties and status within a tranquil natural environment.

Technique & Style

Executed in the refined Rococo manner popular in the mid‑1700s, the work displays delicate brushwork and a light, airy palette. Stubbs balances precise anatomical rendering of the horse with the ornamental detailing of the figures' garments, creating a harmonious blend of naturalism and decorative elegance.

History & Provenance

Although Stubbs was largely self‑taught and operated outside the London academy system, he secured commissions from the gentry, such as this portrait of the Pocklington family. The painting remained in private hands for much of its early history before entering public collections in the nineteenth century.

Context

At the time of its creation, Stubbs was better known for his animal studies, yet this portrait demonstrates his ability to handle group compositions and fashionable portraiture. The work reflects contemporary tastes for pastoral settings that combined aristocratic display with an appreciation of the natural world.