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)
PORTRAIT OF ROBERT PRICE, ESQUIRE OF FOXLEY..., 1758

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF ROBERT PRICE, ESQUIRE OF FOXLEY..., 1758

Sale Date: February 2, 2018

Auction Closed

A LANDSCAPE WITH A SEATED FIGURE, CATTLE, AND...

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

A LANDSCAPE WITH A SEATED FIGURE, CATTLE, AND...

Sale Date: February 1, 2018

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN SHARPE, HALF LENGTH

Circle of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN SHARPE, HALF LENGTH

Sale Date: February 1, 2018

Auction Closed

Portrait of Sir John Skynner, (1723-1805)

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Sir John Skynner, (1723-1805)

Sale Date: February 11, 2018

Auction Closed

LANDSCAPE WITH CATTLE AND SHEEP

Thomas Gainsborough

LANDSCAPE WITH CATTLE AND SHEEP

Sale Date: January 31, 2018

Auction Closed

Portrait of Lt. Colonel Townshend

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Lt. Colonel Townshend

Sale Date: January 11, 2018

Auction Closed

Portrait of William Northey

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of William Northey

Sale Date: November 8, 2017

Auction Closed

Cattle and a drover on a lane passing a..., 1817

Thomas Gainsborough

Cattle and a drover on a lane passing a..., 1817

Sale Date: July 5, 2017

Auction Closed

Portrait of Thomas Brooke (?1755-1820),...

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Thomas Brooke (?1755-1820),...

Sale Date: July 6, 2017

Auction Closed

Richmond Park, Horn Gate

After Thomas Gainsborough

Richmond Park, Horn Gate

Sale Date: June 3, 2017

Auction Closed

Thomas Pennant Esq. (1726-1798), 1776

Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Pennant Esq. (1726-1798), 1776

Sale Date: May 21, 2017

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH BOWES, MRS. CROFT

Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH BOWES, MRS. CROFT

Sale Date: June 8, 2017

Auction Closed

MRS. WILLIAM TENNANT, NÉE MARY WYLDE, SEATED IN...

Thomas Gainsborough

MRS. WILLIAM TENNANT, NÉE MARY WYLDE, SEATED IN...

Sale Date: June 8, 2017

Auction Closed

RURAL LANDSCAPES, 1819

After Thomas Gainsborough

RURAL LANDSCAPES, 1819

Sale Date: May 24, 2017

Auction Closed

RURAL LANDSCAPES, 1819

After Thomas Gainsborough

RURAL LANDSCAPES, 1819

Sale Date: May 24, 2017

Auction Closed

Portrait of Frederick Howard 5th Earl of..., 1765

Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Frederick Howard 5th Earl of..., 1765

Sale Date: April 4, 2017

Auction Closed

The Young Cottager

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

The Young Cottager

Sale Date: March 26, 2017

Auction Closed

Figures by a cart in a wooded landscape, 1769

Thomas Gainsborough

Figures by a cart in a wooded landscape, 1769

Sale Date: April 6, 2017

Auction Closed

LANDSCAPE WITH A COPSE OF TREES

Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough

LANDSCAPE WITH A COPSE OF TREES

Sale Date: February 5, 2017

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A LADY HOLDING A SPANIEL

Follower of Thomas Gainsborough

PORTRAIT OF A LADY HOLDING A SPANIEL

Sale Date: January 27, 2017

Auction Closed

Dancers in a wood

Thomas Gainsborough

Dancers in a wood

Sale Date: January 24, 2017

Auction Closed

STUDY OF A COW AND SHEEP

Thomas Gainsborough

STUDY OF A COW AND SHEEP

Sale Date: January 25, 2017

Auction Closed

TRACK THROUGH SANDY HILLS WITH TREES

Thomas Gainsborough

TRACK THROUGH SANDY HILLS WITH TREES

Sale Date: January 25, 2017

Auction Closed

WOODED LANDSCAPE WITH CATTLE AND GOATS

Thomas Gainsborough

WOODED LANDSCAPE WITH CATTLE AND GOATS

Sale Date: January 25, 2017

Auction Closed