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)
PARCHEN AUF EINER BRUCKE

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

PARCHEN AUF EINER BRUCKE

Sale Date: December 15, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF THE HON. MRS. THOMAS, HALF LENGTH IN

After Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF THE HON. MRS. THOMAS, HALF LENGTH IN

Sale Date: December 13, 1990

Auction Closed

Portrait of a gentleman

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a gentleman

Sale Date: December 8, 1990

Auction Closed

THE GIPSIES (HAYES 2), 1764–1764

Thomas Gainsborough

THE GIPSIES (HAYES 2), 1764–1764

Sale Date: December 6, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, HALF LENGTH, WEARING A...

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, HALF LENGTH, WEARING A...

Sale Date: November 20, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF MISS MARY GAINS- BOROUGH, LATER MRS.

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF MISS MARY GAINS- BOROUGH, LATER MRS.

Sale Date: November 16, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF JOHN,2ND EARL OF...

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF JOHN,2ND EARL OF...

Sale Date: November 16, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS WALKER, HALF LENGTH, IN A RED

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS WALKER, HALF LENGTH, IN A RED

Sale Date: November 16, 1990

Auction Closed

WOODED LANDSCAPE WITH FIGURES AND BUILDINGS

Thomas Gainsborough

WOODED LANDSCAPE WITH FIGURES AND BUILDINGS

Sale Date: November 15, 1990

Auction Closed

A WOODED STREAM

Thomas Gainsborough

A WOODED STREAM

Sale Date: November 15, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF MRS HORTON, NEE MISS LUTTRELL,...

Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF MRS HORTON, NEE MISS LUTTRELL,...

Sale Date: November 14, 1990

Auction Closed

THE SUFFOLK PLOUGH

Thomas Gainsborough

THE SUFFOLK PLOUGH

Sale Date: November 14, 1990

Auction Closed

BILDNIS EINES GENTLEMAN

Thomas Gainsborough

BILDNIS EINES GENTLEMAN

Sale Date: November 14, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF CATHERINE GRIFFITH

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF CATHERINE GRIFFITH

Sale Date: November 14, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF CONSTANTINE JOHN, 2ND BARON MULGRAVE

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF CONSTANTINE JOHN, 2ND BARON MULGRAVE

Sale Date: November 14, 1990

Auction Closed

BILDNIS EINER DAME MIT HUT

After Thomas Gainsborough

BILDNIS EINER DAME MIT HUT

Sale Date: November 9, 1990

Auction Closed

A WOODY LANDSCAPE NEAR BATH WITH TWO PEASANTS...

Thomas Gainsborough

A WOODY LANDSCAPE NEAR BATH WITH TWO PEASANTS...

Sale Date: November 7, 1990

Auction Closed

HORSEMEN DESCENDING A HILLY COUNTRY ROAD NEAR BATH

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

HORSEMEN DESCENDING A HILLY COUNTRY ROAD NEAR BATH

Sale Date: November 1, 1990

Auction Closed

CATTLE AND PEASANTS AT THE EDGE OF A WOOD

After Thomas Gainsborough

CATTLE AND PEASANTS AT THE EDGE OF A WOOD

Sale Date: October 31, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF COLONEL HENRY TOWNSHEND, HALF...

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF COLONEL HENRY TOWNSHEND, HALF...

Sale Date: October 26, 1990

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF ANNE FURYE

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF ANNE FURYE

Sale Date: October 11, 1990

Auction Closed

Portrait of a young girl

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a young girl

Sale Date: October 11, 1990

Auction Closed

CATTLE WATERING

School of Thomas Gainsborough

CATTLE WATERING

Sale Date: October 10, 1990

Auction Closed

THE ARTIST'S DAUGHTERS

After Thomas Gainsborough

THE ARTIST'S DAUGHTERS

Sale Date: October 10, 1990

Auction Closed

English (US)

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