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)
Rustic children on a wooded path, 1755–1759

Thomas Gainsborough

Rustic children on a wooded path, 1755–1759

Sale Date: November 16, 1989

Auction Closed

The road to the village, 1765–1769

Thomas Gainsborough

The road to the village, 1765–1769

Sale Date: November 16, 1989

Auction Closed

Wooded landscape with peasant woman on..., 1775–1779

Thomas Gainsborough

Wooded landscape with peasant woman on..., 1775–1779

Sale Date: November 16, 1989

Auction Closed

Portrait of William Northey

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of William Northey

Sale Date: November 15, 1989

Auction Closed

Portrait of Giles Phillips of Washbrook, Suffolk

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Giles Phillips of Washbrook, Suffolk

Sale Date: November 15, 1989

Auction Closed

Rocky wooded landscape with mounted drover,...

Thomas Gainsborough

Rocky wooded landscape with mounted drover,...

Sale Date: November 15, 1989

Auction Closed

Portrait of a gentleman

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a gentleman

Sale Date: November 15, 1989

Auction Closed

A HERDSMAN AND CATTLE BY A POOL IN A WOODED...

Thomas Gainsborough

A HERDSMAN AND CATTLE BY A POOL IN A WOODED...

Sale Date: November 14, 1989

Auction Closed

A WOOD LANDSCAPE WITH TRAVELLERS

Thomas Gainsborough

A WOOD LANDSCAPE WITH TRAVELLERS

Sale Date: November 14, 1989

Auction Closed

CHILDREN AND SHEEP BENEATH TREES

Thomas Gainsborough

CHILDREN AND SHEEP BENEATH TREES

Sale Date: November 14, 1989

Auction Closed

David Garrick

After Thomas Gainsborough

David Garrick

Sale Date: October 26, 1989

Auction Closed

A wooded landscape with herdsmen and animals

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

A wooded landscape with herdsmen and animals

Sale Date: October 18, 1989

Auction Closed

A herder watering cattle in an..., 1814–1814

School of Thomas Gainsborough

A herder watering cattle in an..., 1814–1814

Sale Date: October 10, 1989

Auction Closed

Portrait of a Man, believed to be Admiral Lord...

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a Man, believed to be Admiral Lord...

Sale Date: July 12, 1989

Auction Closed

Portrait of a Lady Believed to be Mrs...., 1790–1790

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of a Lady Believed to be Mrs...., 1790–1790

Sale Date: July 12, 1989

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF FRANCES, MRS. ALEXANDER CHAMPION

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF FRANCES, MRS. ALEXANDER CHAMPION

Sale Date: June 2, 1989

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, SAID TO BE CAPTAIN SHARPE

Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, SAID TO BE CAPTAIN SHARPE

Sale Date: April 7, 1989

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF J. BANKS, ESQUIRE, 1760–1760

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF J. BANKS, ESQUIRE, 1760–1760

Sale Date: January 12, 1989

Auction Closed

Landscape with a drover, sheep and cattle in a...

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

Landscape with a drover, sheep and cattle in a...

Sale Date: October 26, 1988

Auction Closed

Landscape with figure resting under a tree

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Landscape with figure resting under a tree

Sale Date: October 21, 1988

Auction Closed

Figures along a country road

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

Figures along a country road

Sale Date: October 21, 1988

Auction Closed

Landscape with trees by a road

Thomas Gainsborough

Landscape with trees by a road

Sale Date: July 14, 1988

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN IN A RED COAT

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN IN A RED COAT

Sale Date: June 3, 1988

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF ROBERT PRICE, ESQUIRE OF FOXLEY,...

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF ROBERT PRICE, ESQUIRE OF FOXLEY,...

Sale Date: June 3, 1988

Auction Closed

English (US)

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