Thomas Gainsborough (born May 14, 1727 – died August 2, 1788) was a British painter of the second half of the 18th century, whose portraits and landscapes had a great influence on the development of English fine art. The work of Thomas Gainsborough was highly valued by his contemporaries: he enjoyed the patronage of George III and became one of the founders of the Royal Academy of Arts. The paintings of this master are distinguished by their lightness and artistry.

Biography of Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough was born in the provincial town of Sudbury in the east of England and was baptized on May 14, 1727. He became the ninth, youngest child in a wealthy family engaged in the woolen cloth trade. The mother of the future artist was fond of painting. With her support, the boy did not part with an album from an early age. At the age of 13, he went to London for more serious training, became an apprentice to an engraver and took lessons from one of the teachers at St. Martin’s Academy.

Thomas Gainsborough opened his workshop at the age of 18, initially restoring paintings and copying masterpieces of old masters. A year later, he married Margaret Barr, who was the illegitimate daughter of a duke and provided her husband with material wealth. For some time, the couple lived in their native Sudbury, but in search of wealthy customers, they moved to the larger city of Ipswich.

In Ipswich, Gainsborough gradually gained fame as an excellent portraitist, able to convey the features and character of a person. But even here, there were few customers. Successful merchants and military men turned to the artist, and the work was paid half as much as that of colleagues in the capital. In 1759, the whole family moved to the resort town of Bath, where aristocrats loved to relax.

In Bath, the artist not only acquired many respectable clients, but also became acquainted with the works of old masters from private collections. He was especially impressed by the works of Anthony van Dyck and Pieter Paul Rubens. As a result, his style of painting changed significantly, becoming freer and more lyrical.

In 1768, the artist became one of the first 36 members of the Royal Academy, but exhibited there for only a few years. His rival Joshua Reynolds, who became the president of the Academy, placed Gainsborough’s paintings too high, among the weakest works. In 1774, the artist moved to the capital and exhibited his best works in his London studio.

In his later years, Thomas Gainsborough painted portraits of members of the royal family and representatives of the highest aristocracy, from time to time devoting attention to his favorite genre – landscape. The artist lived for 61 years and died on August 2, 1788. His daughter said that in his last words the painter mentioned Van Dyck.