The artwork, titled “Pavian and Albino Makake,” was created by George Stubbs around the year 1780. Belonging to the Romanticism art movement, this animal painting measures 69.8 cm by 99.1 cm.
In the artwork, two monkeys are depicted in an evocative and somewhat dramatic composition. On the left stands a large, dark-colored monkey—likely a baboon—carrying a staff, with a stern, commanding presence as it gestures upwards with one arm. Its gaze is directed into the distance, perhaps towards something unseen or imagined. On the right, an albino macaque sits pensively, with a contrasting light fur and a posture that conveys introspection or sorrow. The background is rendered in muted, earthy tones, adding to the somber and contemplative mood of the scene. The artist’s use of chiaroscuro and detailed anatomical precision exemplifies the Romantic fascination with nature and the animal world.
