Thomas Gainsborough

(British, 1727–1788)

Thomas Gainsborough was a leading British Romantic portraitist. His work is distinctive for his lively handling of paint, which allowed the artist to capture his sitters’ likenesses both quickly and accurately. Born on May 14, 1727 in Sudbury, United Kingdom, he developed his skill while working as an assistant to Hubert-François Gravelot, a French Rococo painter. Though his first love was landscape painting, Gainsborough quickly turned to portraits for their popularity and the financial stability they offered. His works, painted in dark colors with economical brush strokes, were of contemporary celebrities as well as local merchants and townspeople. He gained widespread acclaim and emerged as one of the leading portrait artists of the century alongside his longtime rival, Joshua Reynolds. Gainsborough was notably one of the original 36 artists invited to join the Royal Academy. He went on to paint portraits of King George III and his wife, and many royal commissions thereafter. The artist died on August 2, 1788, in London, United Kingdom. Today, his works can be found in the collections of the National Gallery in London, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Louvre Museum in Paris, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, among others.

Thomas Gainsborough Artworks

Thomas Gainsborough (997 results)
Portrait of the Right Honorable Augustus Harvey,

Studio of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of the Right Honorable Augustus Harvey,

Sale Date: November 1, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait of Mrs. Horton, née Luttrell, later...

After Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Mrs. Horton, née Luttrell, later...

Sale Date: October 27, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait de femme au chapeau, 1800–1899

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait de femme au chapeau, 1800–1899

Sale Date: June 26, 2011

Auction Closed

An open landscape at dusk; With figure,...

Thomas Gainsborough

An open landscape at dusk; With figure,...

Sale Date: July 7, 2011

Auction Closed

A view in the Lake District, possibly Folly...

Thomas Gainsborough

A view in the Lake District, possibly Folly...

Sale Date: July 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Hilly wooded landscape with figure and stream

Thomas Gainsborough

Hilly wooded landscape with figure and stream

Sale Date: July 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait of Robert Palmer (1713-1787)

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Robert Palmer (1713-1787)

Sale Date: July 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait of Colonel John Bullock dressed in...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Colonel John Bullock dressed in...

Sale Date: July 5, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait of Mrs. William Villebois in masquerade

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Mrs. William Villebois in masquerade

Sale Date: July 5, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait of Mrs. Isaac Elton

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Mrs. Isaac Elton

Sale Date: June 8, 2011

Auction Closed

The cottage door

After Thomas Gainsborough

The cottage door

Sale Date: April 9, 2011

Auction Closed

A wooded landscape with a shepherd at rest by a...

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

A wooded landscape with a shepherd at rest by a...

Sale Date: April 13, 2011

Auction Closed

Woods scene w/ cabin

Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough

Woods scene w/ cabin

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Flusslandschaft mit Angler und Bauernhaus

Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough

Flusslandschaft mit Angler und Bauernhaus

Sale Date: February 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait of a lady (Mary Isabella, 4th..., 1780–1785

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a lady (Mary Isabella, 4th..., 1780–1785

Sale Date: January 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Portrait de femme à vue ovale, 1775–1799

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait de femme à vue ovale, 1775–1799

Sale Date: January 15, 2011

Auction Closed

Wooded landscape with herdsman, cows and cottage

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with herdsman, cows and cottage

Sale Date: January 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Untitled

Thomas Gainsborough

Untitled

Sale Date: October 1, 2007

Auction Closed

Portrait of Henry Fane, M.P. Wormsley,..., 1750–1760

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Henry Fane, M.P. Wormsley,..., 1750–1760

Sale Date: December 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Portrait of an officer, (General James Wolfe? )...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of an officer, (General James Wolfe? )...

Sale Date: December 7, 2010

Auction Closed

When the day is done

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

When the day is done

Sale Date: November 16, 2010

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A drover with his cattle in a landscape, an...

Thomas Gainsborough

A drover with his cattle in a landscape, an...

Sale Date: October 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Portrait of John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll...

Sale Date: October 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Portrait of Richard Lowndes

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Richard Lowndes

Sale Date: October 28, 2010

Auction Closed