Stephen Elmer (1715–1796) was one of the leading British animal and sporting painters of the eighteenth century, renowned for his accomplished depictions of livestock, game and sporting subjects. Based in Farnham, Surrey, Elmer enjoyed considerable patronage from the landed gentry, who commissioned him to record their prize cattle, sheep, horses and shooting estates with remarkable fidelity and sensitivity. A founder member of the Society of Artists, Elmer exhibited regularly in London and established a reputation for combining careful observation of animal anatomy with a naturalistic treatment of the landscape. His paintings are distinguished by their balanced compositions, rich colouring and finely rendered textures, reflecting both the prosperity of rural England and the growing appreciation of agricultural improvement during the Georgian period. Today, Stephen Elmer is regarded as one of the most accomplished British animal painters of his generation. His works are represented in a number of important public collections and remain highly sought after by collectors for their combination of artistic refinement, documentary interest and enduring celebration of the English countryside.