The Prince of Wales’s Phaeton 

George Stubbs' painting 'The Prince of Wales’s Phaeton' presents a composed scene set against a vast sky. The visual field is organized around the gleaming black horses and the bright red phaeton. The painting is an exercise in contrasts, a study in the formal language of color and line. Stubbs manipulates the interplay between these dark and light elements to explore themes of wealth and leisure. Note how the artist renders the musculature of the horses with scientific precision, typical of his anatomical studies. Yet, these powerful animals are harnessed for recreational purposes, suggesting a specific commentary on the elite's use of nature for personal enjoyment. The figures—the prince, the attendant, and even the dog—are arranged to draw attention to the carriage, a symbol of status and technological innovation. The meticulous detail and balanced composition invite us to consider the painting not just as a portrait but as a statement about the social order and the changing relationship between humans and the natural world. Stubbs uses a formal structure to examine the values of his time.