George Stubbs, A Nylghau, 1769-1771

Late at the Tate was held in the ‘sublime’ room. Probably my favourite room at Tate Britain. And sublimity probably doesn’t get much better than this. Of course it doesn’t really translate over this medium, you need to see it for yourself, or at least a really good reproduction. As what you don’t see here is the way that both the lion and the horse seem to be looking right at you, and challenging you with unremitting eyes. It’s odd because the Lion is tearing up the horse, but they seem in unison against you. Like nature taking you, the viewer, on (which is I guess what the sublime does). The image imprinted the night’s mood as the sounds a tDMZ felt equally fierce.