Thomas Gainsborough

The portrait and landscape painter, Thomas Gainsborough is considered one of the most important British artists of the late 18th century. Born at Sudbury, Suffolk, Gainsborough was the youngest son of a cloth merchant. At age 13 he apprenticed for a London silversmith and worked as an assistant to Hubert Gravelot, a French painter and engraver. In 1745, he established his own studio in London, and a year later he married Margaret Burr, the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Beaufort. The couple returned to Suffolk before settling in Ipswich in 1752. During this period, they had two daughters, Mary in 1748, and Margaret in 1752.

• Born: May 14, 1727; Sudbury, Suffolk, United Kingdom  Places are defined in terms of modern geography.     Died: August 2, 1788; London, United Kingdom  Places are defined in terms of modern geography.     Active Years: 1737 - 1788.     Nationality: British

• Art Movement: Rococo.    Painting School: English school.    Genre: landscape, portrait.    Field: painting.    Influenced by: Anthony van Dyck, Jacob van Ruisdael

• Influenced on: John Constable, Alfred Sisley, John Singer Sargent, Paul-Albert Besnard.    Teachers: William Hogarth.    Art institution: Royal Academy of Arts (RA), London, UK

THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH FAMOUS WORKS

Here we show artworks that are significant for an artist’s creative career, or for an art history in general)

• Mr. and Mrs. Andrews •  1750 
• John Plampin  •  1753-1755 
• River Landscape with Rustic Lovers  •  1754-1756 
• The Blue Boy •  1770 
• Seashore with Fishermen  •  1781-1782 
• Mrs. Sarah Siddons, the actress •  1785 
• A Woman in Blue (Portrait of the Duchess of Beaufort)