Sir Thomas Gainsborough (1727 – 1788)
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Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter born in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. Gainsborough’s father, a humble weaver, was the first to recognize his son’s artistic skills. At the age of thirteen Gainsborough’s parents allowed him to leave home for an apprentice position with engraver Gravelot in London. Once in London, Gainsborough entered an art academy and began studying under William Hogwarth and Francis Hayman.
By the 1740s, Gainsborough had started a family with his wife, Margaret Burr and was shifting his concentration from landscape paintings to portraits. The family moved away from London, living in various towns including Sudbury, Ipswich and Bath. In Bath, Gainsborough began to find a strong client base for his portraits.
In 1769 Gainsborough began participating in annual exhibitions at the Royal Academy in London and became one of the earliest members of the Royal Society of the Arts. Gainsborough became known for painting well-known figures in high society. Gainsborough exhibited with the academy until 1773, when his relationship with the academy was strained.
The following year, Gainsborough returned to London with his family and settled in the Schomberg House, Pall Mall. Gainsborough eventually improved his relationship with the academy and continued to have annual exhibitions. During the following decade, Gainsborough painted portraits of King George III and the queen, in addition to several other members of royalty.
During Gainsborough’s later years he returned to painting landscape paintings and “ordinary” people that were not particularly well known. By he time of Gainsborough’s death his paintings had spread to important collections throughout England. Gainsborough remains an important name in British painting. Do you think you own a painting by Thomas Gainsborough? Contact us. We are the Gainsborough experts.