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 News

Museums & Institutions

Leaky Roof Causes Serious Concern for Welsh National Museum Amid Pleas for Urgent Repairs

by Verity Babbs
Leaky Roof Causes Serious Concern for Welsh National Museum Amid Pleas for Urgent Repairs
Art World

Need an Absorbing Read for the Holidays? Check Out These 13 Books Recommended by the Artnet News Staff

by Artnet News
Need an Absorbing Read for the Holidays? Check Out These 13 Books Recommended by the Artnet News Staff
Art World

Dozens of Previously Unknown Thomas Gainsborough Drawings Are Discovered in a Library Book

by Naomi Rea
Dozens of Previously Unknown Thomas Gainsborough Drawings Are Discovered in a Library Book

Thomas Gainsborough Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Thomas Gainsborough (997 results)
Portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire...

After Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire...

Sale Date: March 9, 2005

Auction Closed

Portrait of Broughton Maysey, half..., 1765–1769

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Broughton Maysey, half..., 1765–1769

Sale Date: January 27, 2005

Auction Closed

Shepherd resting

In the manner of Thomas Gainsborough

Shepherd resting

Sale Date: January 29, 2005

Auction Closed

An extensive wooded landscape, with figures in...

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

An extensive wooded landscape, with figures in...

Sale Date: November 23, 2004

Auction Closed

Wooded river landscape with figures in a..., 1775

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded river landscape with figures in a..., 1775

Sale Date: November 18, 2004

Auction Closed

The ford

After Thomas Gainsborough

The ford

Sale Date: September 9, 2004

Auction Closed

Mountainous landscape with cart and..., 1785–1789

Thomas Gainsborough

Mountainous landscape with cart and..., 1785–1789

Sale Date: July 1, 2004

Auction Closed

An extensive landscape with cattle and..., 1754–1756

Thomas Gainsborough

An extensive landscape with cattle and..., 1754–1756

Sale Date: July 1, 2004

Auction Closed

Wooded landscape with horseman and..., 1775–1779

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with horseman and..., 1775–1779

Sale Date: July 1, 2004

Auction Closed

Charity relieving Distress (preparatory study)

Thomas Gainsborough

Charity relieving Distress (preparatory study)

Sale Date: July 1, 2004

Auction Closed

Portrait of the Rev. Humphrey Gainsborough in a...

Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of the Rev. Humphrey Gainsborough in a...

Sale Date: June 17, 2004

Auction Closed

Wooded landscape with figures, donkeys and...

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with figures, donkeys and...

Sale Date: June 3, 2004

Auction Closed

A track through a wooded landscape

Thomas Gainsborough

A track through a wooded landscape

Sale Date: June 3, 2004

Auction Closed

A wooded landscape with sheep grazing by a...

Thomas Gainsborough

A wooded landscape with sheep grazing by a...

Sale Date: June 3, 2004

Auction Closed

Wooded landscape with herdsmen, cows, river and...

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with herdsmen, cows, river and...

Sale Date: June 3, 2004

Auction Closed

Portrait of Captain John Stanley in the , 1774–1774

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Captain John Stanley in the , 1774–1774

Sale Date: June 9, 2004

Auction Closed

The cottage door

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

The cottage door

Sale Date: May 27, 2004

Auction Closed

Reiter mit ihren Lastpferden auf einer Brücke

Thomas Gainsborough

Reiter mit ihren Lastpferden auf einer Brücke

Sale Date: April 3, 2004

Auction Closed

Wooded landscape with figures on a..., 1780–1785

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with figures on a..., 1780–1785

Sale Date: March 26, 2004

Auction Closed

A wooded landscape with a boy watering a grey pony

Thomas Gainsborough

A wooded landscape with a boy watering a grey pony

Sale Date: March 4, 2004

Auction Closed

River running through a hilly landscape with sheep

Thomas Gainsborough

River running through a hilly landscape with sheep

Sale Date: December 8, 2003

Auction Closed

Covered wagon with horses and rider before a...

Thomas Gainsborough

Covered wagon with horses and rider before a...

Sale Date: December 8, 2003

Auction Closed

Wooded landscape with riders, sheep and , 1780–1789

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with riders, sheep and , 1780–1789

Sale Date: November 27, 2003

Auction Closed

Portrait of a pug belonging to Jonathan , 1780–1789

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a pug belonging to Jonathan , 1780–1789

Sale Date: November 27, 2003

Auction Closed

English (US)

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