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)
Study of horses, cows, a donkey and a pig, 1750–1759

Thomas Gainsborough

Study of horses, cows, a donkey and a pig, 1750–1759

Sale Date: December 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Portrait of a young boy

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a young boy

Sale Date: November 24, 2005

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Portrait of Elizabeth Ives, Mrs Thomas Butcher

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Elizabeth Ives, Mrs Thomas Butcher

Sale Date: November 24, 2005

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Portrait of two children of the Bathurst family

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of two children of the Bathurst family

Sale Date: November 24, 2005

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Portrait of Sir Francis Skipwith, 3rd Bt.,...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Sir Francis Skipwith, 3rd Bt.,...

Sale Date: November 23, 2005

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Portrait of William Northey, LL.D., F.R.S., M.P.

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of William Northey, LL.D., F.R.S., M.P.

Sale Date: November 23, 2005

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A wooded landscape with a horse and cart on a...

Thomas Gainsborough

A wooded landscape with a horse and cart on a...

Sale Date: November 17, 2005

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Portrait of a lady in a blue, lace-trimmed dress

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a lady in a blue, lace-trimmed dress

Sale Date: November 2, 2005

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Portrait of a man

After Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a man

Sale Date: September 18, 2005

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A wooded landscape with figures, a cottage and...

Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough

A wooded landscape with figures, a cottage and...

Sale Date: September 30, 2005

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Portrait of Christopher Griffith, Jr., of...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Christopher Griffith, Jr., of...

Sale Date: September 30, 2005

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Buildings in a wooded landscape with a figure...

Thomas Gainsborough

Buildings in a wooded landscape with a figure...

Sale Date: June 6, 2002

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Milkmaids with cattle on a country track

Thomas Gainsborough

Milkmaids with cattle on a country track

Sale Date: June 30, 2005

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Portrait of Francis Bennett of Cadbury Court

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Francis Bennett of Cadbury Court

Sale Date: June 30, 2005

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Portrait of Anne Thistlethwaite, Countess of...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Anne Thistlethwaite, Countess of...

Sale Date: June 30, 2005

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Portrait of Elizabeth Bowes, Mrs. Croft

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Elizabeth Bowes, Mrs. Croft

Sale Date: June 30, 2005

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Portrait of Sir Charles Gould, full-length,..., 1782

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Sir Charles Gould, full-length,..., 1782

Sale Date: June 14, 2005

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Portrait of lady Willielma Glenorchy in a green...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of lady Willielma Glenorchy in a green...

Sale Date: June 16, 2005

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Travellers on a track in a landscape, 1833

Thomas Gainsborough

Travellers on a track in a landscape, 1833

Sale Date: June 9, 2005

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Woodland scene

Thomas Gainsborough

Woodland scene

Sale Date: June 9, 2005

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Cottage with a gate

Thomas Gainsborough

Cottage with a gate

Sale Date: June 9, 2005

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A horseman on a track in a wooded landscape

Thomas Gainsborough

A horseman on a track in a wooded landscape

Sale Date: June 9, 2005

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Wooded landscape with gypsies round a..., 1754–1764

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with gypsies round a..., 1754–1764

Sale Date: May 5, 2005

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Portrait of Dr. Young

After Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Dr. Young

Sale Date: April 19, 2005

Auction Closed