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)
A traveller on a country track, in a..., 1780–1785

Thomas Gainsborough

A traveller on a country track, in a..., 1780–1785

Sale Date: November 28, 2000

Auction Closed

Cattle watering, in a wooded landscape, 1780–1780

Thomas Gainsborough

Cattle watering, in a wooded landscape, 1780–1780

Sale Date: November 28, 2000

Auction Closed

A country track in a wooded landscape

Thomas Gainsborough

A country track in a wooded landscape

Sale Date: November 28, 2000

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A King Charles's spaniel

Thomas Gainsborough

A King Charles's spaniel

Sale Date: November 6, 2000

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Portrait of Jan van de Wouwer in a fur-lined...

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Jan van de Wouwer in a fur-lined...

Sale Date: October 19, 2000

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Portrait of Mrs. Samuel Kilderbee wearing a blue

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Mrs. Samuel Kilderbee wearing a blue

Sale Date: October 18, 2000

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Portrait of a gentleman (Robert, 8th Baron...

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a gentleman (Robert, 8th Baron...

Sale Date: October 18, 2000

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Portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire

In the manner of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire

Sale Date: September 27, 2000

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Portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

After Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

Sale Date: September 7, 2000

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A figure on a bridge near a village

Thomas Gainsborough

A figure on a bridge near a village

Sale Date: July 11, 2000

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Landscape with man on horseback

Thomas Gainsborough

Landscape with man on horseback

Sale Date: June 17, 2000

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Hilly landscape with herdsmen and cattle by a...

Thomas Gainsborough

Hilly landscape with herdsmen and cattle by a...

Sale Date: June 15, 2000

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Wooded mountain landscape with herdsman , 1759–1759

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded mountain landscape with herdsman , 1759–1759

Sale Date: June 15, 2000

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Fallen tree, 1750–1755

Thomas Gainsborough

Fallen tree, 1750–1755

Sale Date: June 8, 2000

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Herdsman with cows and sheep outside a..., 1755–1755

Thomas Gainsborough

Herdsman with cows and sheep outside a..., 1755–1755

Sale Date: June 8, 2000

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Portrait of a gentleman (Robert, 8th Baron...

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a gentleman (Robert, 8th Baron...

Sale Date: May 25, 2000

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Portrait of a gentleman (Thomas Henderson of...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a gentleman (Thomas Henderson of...

Sale Date: May 25, 2000

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Portrait of Miss Philadelphia Rowley, Lady...

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Miss Philadelphia Rowley, Lady...

Sale Date: May 25, 2000

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Portrait of Admiral Vernon

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Admiral Vernon

Sale Date: March 22, 2000

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Portrait of Ann Witham, Mrs. Philip Howard

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Ann Witham, Mrs. Philip Howard

Sale Date: March 22, 2000

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A river scene, with a herdsman, horses..., 1770–1770

Thomas Gainsborough

A river scene, with a herdsman, horses..., 1770–1770

Sale Date: March 22, 2000

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Wooded landscape with figures, donkey and...

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with figures, donkey and...

Sale Date: March 15, 2000

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Two female figures walking, seen from..., 1745–1750

Thomas Gainsborough

Two female figures walking, seen from..., 1745–1750

Sale Date: February 3, 2000

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The watering place

After Thomas Gainsborough

The watering place

Sale Date: January 26, 2000

Auction Closed