Gainsborough

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Thomas Gainsborough English Painter

Thomas Gainsborough (14 May 1727 - 2 August 1788) was one of the most famous portrait and landscape painters of 18th century Britain. He was born in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. His birth house today is a much visited museum, with an exhibiton of many beautiful drawings and paintings

This little painting by Thomas Gainsborough is entiled Countess of Chesterfield; while the large picture depicts his painting entitled The Honorable Mrs. Graham

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Gainsborough: Self Portrait 

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Gainsborough: Mary, Countess Howe 

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).

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Gainsborough: Miss Anne Ford 

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Gainsborough: Peasant Girl Gathering Sticks 

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).

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Thomas Gainsborough's Life continued 

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!

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Gainsborough: The Morning Walk 1785 

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

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Gainsborough: Mrs. Siddons 

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Gainsborough Books 

Thomas Gainsborough on Amazon 

Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough

Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

The Hound in the Left-hand Corner: A Novel

The Hound in the Left-hand Corner: A Novel

by: Giles Waterfield

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Thomas Gainsborough: A Country Life (Art & Design)

Thomas Gainsborough: A Country Life (Art & Design)

by: Hugh Belsey, Thomas Gainsborough

Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Gainsborough: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)

Gainsborough: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)

by: Nicola Kalinsky

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Best Loved Paintings: Pinkie and Blue Boy

Best Loved Paintings: Pinkie and Blue Boy

by: Robert R. Wark

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

More Thomas Gainsborough on Amazon 

The Letters of Thomas Gainsborough (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)

The Letters of Thomas Gainsborough (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)

Amazon Price: $35.39 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough

by: Ronald Sutherland Gower

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Gainsborough (World of Art)

Gainsborough (World of Art)

by: William Vaughan

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Thomas Gainsborough (British Artists)

Thomas Gainsborough (British Artists)

by: Martin Postle

Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Gainsborough's Beautiful Mrs. Graham

Gainsborough's Beautiful Mrs. Graham

by: Hugh Belsey

Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Thomas Gainsborough's Two Daughters 

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Thomas Gainsborough - The Painter's Two Daughters c. 1758

The Changing Face of Childhood: British Children's portraits and their influence in Europe - Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibition introduced by director Ian Dejardin

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Visit the London Museums 

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YouTube video on a vurtuoso violin player at the National Gallery of Art in London 

While I wasn't able to locate a single video on youtube about the National Gallery in London exhibiting Gainsborough paintings, I ran across this virtuoso violin player who is standing at the entrance of the gallery, and I could not help but including it here. After all, what would visual Art be without music?

Violin player near National Art Gallery in London

very nice jazz player on violin... What a beautiful improvisation!

Runtime: 69
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Even More Thomas Gainsborough Books on Amazon 

Gainsborough's Beautiful Mrs. Graham

Gainsborough's Beautiful Mrs. Graham

by: Hugh Belsey

Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

The Art of Thomas Gainsborough:

The Art of Thomas Gainsborough: "A Little Business for the Eye" (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)

by: Professor Michael Rosenthal

Amazon Price: $65.00 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

British Painting in the National Gallery of Art Booklet Number Eight

British Painting in the National Gallery of Art Booklet Number Eight

by: hereward lester cooke

Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Gainsborough in Bath (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)

Gainsborough in Bath (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)

by: Susan Sloman

Amazon Price: $55.00 (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Gainsborough in Canada

Gainsborough in Canada

by: Ian G. Lumsden

Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009) Buy Now

Gainsborough Prints on eBay 

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