Sawrey Gilpin (1733–1807): The Romantic Horse Painter Sawrey Gilpin, RA, stands as a pivotal figure in British animal art of the late 18th century, celebrated for his masterful depictions of horses and dogs—subjects that captured the spirit of the Romantic era. Born in Carlisle, Cumbria, in 1733, he descended from a family steeped in artistic tradition; his father, John Bernard Gilpin, was an amateur artist who established a drawing school, fostering young Sawrey’s innate talent. Early Influences: Gilpin's formative years were shaped by the teachings of Samuel Scott at Covent Garden, whe…