Gainsborough

Gainsborough moved to London ca 1740 when he was about 13 years old, and soon became a student of the French engraver Gravelot. He moved back to Sudbury in 1748 and 4 years later he opened a workshop accepting assignments for portrait paintings in the wealthy Ipswitch area. His Art work from this period includes mostly close-up portraits of head and half-body, and a few of the portraits were placed in landscapes. Just a few years later, in 1759 Gainsborough settled in the scenic Bath, and started receiving orders from the local High Society. His masterpieces from that time include the painting seen here, entitled Mary, Countess Howe (Kenwood House, London, 1763-64).

In 1768 Gainsborough became foundation member of the Royal Academy of Art, and in 1774 he settled down permanently in London. He soon became a highly respected painter for the Royal Family, and together with th King's Principal Painter Reynolds, th two have received one assignment after the other for full size, large scale paintings.

Gainsborough often referred to portrait painting as something he did for a living; however, landscape painting remained his favorite Artistic activity. Even in the midst of bustling London traffic and crowded life style, he continued to paint one landscape after the other, recalled the beauty of the countryside he left behind. Many a nice landscape drawing, some in pencil, some in charcoal, was found later in his studio. One example for these pastoral themes is his Peasant Girl Gathering Sticks (Manchester City Art Gallery, 1782).

Gainsborough was often said to have been influenced by other masters such as Rubens, or Reynolds, but the fact is, he actually developed his distinctly unique style and artistic credo. He used gorgeous, almost etheric colors and light effects, rich materials. His wonderful, sharp eyes to detail (often depicting the character or personality of his models in a meaningful way) lend his works an admirable charme and timeless quality.

This Gainsborough painting is entitled Queen Charlotte and Her Dog. Do you see some similarities to Queen Elizabeth the II? I do!

Mr. and Mrs. William Hallett (The Morning Walk), circa 1785