As the first English artist to paint portraits of horses,
John Wootton (British, 1686–1765) was the horse painter to the aristocracy for half a century, and was known as the best horse painter in England. Wootton painted some of the most famous racehorses of his time, often life size. He frequently collaborated with leading portrait painters, such as
Thomas Hudson and
William Hogarth, to paint the rider.