A striking equine portrait, attributed to George Stubbs, galloped past expectations at John Nicholson’s Fernhurst saleroom fetching an enormous £80,000. The oil-on-canvas painting, featuring a saddled grey mare tethered against a rural landscape, was purchased by a buyer from the Channel Islands.

Measuring 25½ x 35 inches, the artwork includes a Christie's stencil number (532J) on the reverse, adding to its provenance. The composition, with a church spire visible in the distance, focuses entirely on the horse – echoing the signature style of Stubbs, widely regarded as Britain’s greatest equine artist. Born 300 years ago, he has often been hailed as England’s Leonardo

Stubbs was born in Liverpool in 1724 and as the son of a leather worker, he developed an early fascination with anatomy. After spending time in York illustrating a midwifery treatise, he moved to Lincolnshire in the 1750s, where he dissected horses to produce his seminal The Anatomy of the Horse (1766). This groundbreaking study cemented his reputation, and attracted aristocratic patrons, including members of the Jockey Club, who commissioned his now-iconic sporting and racing portraits.

The Liverpool-born artist, who died aged 81 in 1806, is known to have finished fewer than 400 paintings over the span of his career.

But despite his skill, Stubbs was saddled with the title of a mere "sporting painter" and denied full membership of the Royal Academy. But his influence extended beyond the racetrack – he later painted scenes of rural life, wild animals, and even experimented with enamels on Wedgwood plaques. His meticulous understanding of anatomy, combined with a lyrical artistic style, set his work apart, ensuring its lasting appeal.

This latest sale is a testament to Stubbs’ enduring legacy, with collectors continuing to prize his work – and that of his followers – more than two centuries after his death.