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)
A SHEPHERD IN A DELL WITH HIS FLOCK, 1775–1780

Thomas Gainsborough

A SHEPHERD IN A DELL WITH HIS FLOCK, 1775–1780

Sale Date: April 1, 1993

Auction Closed

TRAVELLERS RETURNING FROM MARKET, EVENING, 1770–1775

Thomas Gainsborough

TRAVELLERS RETURNING FROM MARKET, EVENING, 1770–1775

Sale Date: April 1, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF AN OFFICER

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF AN OFFICER

Sale Date: March 24, 1993

Auction Closed

Portrait of Ralph Leycester Esq. of Toft,..., 1762

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Ralph Leycester Esq. of Toft,..., 1762

Sale Date: March 14, 1993

Auction Closed

PRINCESS ROYAL-DAUGHTER OF GEORGE III

In the manner of Thomas Gainsborough

PRINCESS ROYAL-DAUGHTER OF GEORGE III

Sale Date: March 14, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF SIR WILLIAM BLACKSTONE

School of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF SIR WILLIAM BLACKSTONE

Sale Date: March 13, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SMALL BUST LENGTH, WEARING A

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SMALL BUST LENGTH, WEARING A

Sale Date: March 4, 1993

Auction Closed

EARL OF DARNLEY

After Thomas Gainsborough

EARL OF DARNLEY

Sale Date: February 7, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SAID TO BE THE HON. MRS....

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SAID TO BE THE HON. MRS....

Sale Date: January 20, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS NUTHALL

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS NUTHALL

Sale Date: January 15, 1993

Auction Closed

THE HAYCART THE HOTEL AU CORBEAU, STRASBOURG

After Thomas Gainsborough

THE HAYCART THE HOTEL AU CORBEAU, STRASBOURG

Sale Date: January 13, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT DE JEUNE FEMME TENANT UNE ROSE

Style of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT DE JEUNE FEMME TENANT UNE ROSE

Sale Date: December 20, 1992

Auction Closed

RITRATTO DI GIOVANE DAMA, A MEZZO BUSTO

In the manner of Thomas Gainsborough

RITRATTO DI GIOVANE DAMA, A MEZZO BUSTO

Sale Date: November 25, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, TRADITIONALLY..., 1775–1780

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, TRADITIONALLY..., 1775–1780

Sale Date: November 20, 1992

Auction Closed

A COASTAL SCENE WITH FIGURES IN SAILING , 1782–1784

Thomas Gainsborough

A COASTAL SCENE WITH FIGURES IN SAILING , 1782–1784

Sale Date: November 20, 1992

Auction Closed

MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPE WITH CART AND FIGURES

Thomas Gainsborough

MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPE WITH CART AND FIGURES

Sale Date: November 19, 1992

Auction Closed

WOODED LANDSCAPE WITH DROVER AND PACKHORSES

Thomas Gainsborough

WOODED LANDSCAPE WITH DROVER AND PACKHORSES

Sale Date: November 19, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF CAROLINE, 4TH DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF CAROLINE, 4TH DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH

Sale Date: November 18, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF SARAH LANGSTON

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF SARAH LANGSTON

Sale Date: November 18, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS BUTCHER, 1772

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS BUTCHER, 1772

Sale Date: November 18, 1992

Auction Closed

A RUSTIC FAMILY AT A COTTAGE DOOR

In the manner of Thomas Gainsborough

A RUSTIC FAMILY AT A COTTAGE DOOR

Sale Date: October 29, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SAID TO BE MRS. MEAD, WIFE...

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SAID TO BE MRS. MEAD, WIFE...

Sale Date: October 15, 1992

Auction Closed

BOY IN BLUE

After Thomas Gainsborough

BOY IN BLUE

Sale Date: August 20, 1992

Auction Closed

OPEN LANDSCAPE WITH FARM BOY AND HORSES, 1760–1765

Thomas Gainsborough

OPEN LANDSCAPE WITH FARM BOY AND HORSES, 1760–1765

Sale Date: July 16, 1992

Auction Closed

English (US)

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