The most striking Classicist animal painter of his generation, James Ward (1769-1859) was influenced throughout his artistic career by Peter Paul Rubens. He did not want to be labelled as solely a painter of animals, and despite painting landscapes, portraits and historical paintings, he became famous particularly for his animal paintings. He painted not only hunting hobbies but also dogs and horses. Ward earned fame and fortune particularly for his connection between horses and portraits. At the end of his life, he was very dissatisfied with the artistic life, and therefore created several religiously toned paintings conveying certain messages. A sudden stroke in 1855 ended his work.