Jacques-Laurent Agasse (1767–1849) was a celebrated Swiss animal and landscape painter who became a central figure in the British Golden Age of Sporting Art. Born into an affluent family in Geneva, Agasse received his initial training at the École de Dessin before moving to Paris to study in the studio of the great Neoclassical master Jacques-Louis David. His move to London in 1800 was encouraged by his wealthy patron, George Pitt, 2nd Baron Rivers, for whom he painted some of his most famous equestrian works. Agasse’s painting style belongs to the Romanticism period but is distinguished by an almost scientific anatomical precision and a clean, luminous clarity. Famous works like "The Nubian Giraffe" and "The Dashwood Children" demonstrate his unique ability to blend formal portraiture with a deep, sensitive understanding of animal behavior and natural settings. Translating an Agasse painting into a counted cross stitch design allows you to explore a palette of rich, earthy tones and subtle gradients of light. Each stitch captures the sleek musculature of a thoroughbred or the delicate textures of a wilderness scene, making it a perfect project for those who appreciate the intersection of fine art and natural history.