Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) painter: self portrait

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

One of the founders of the 18th-century British landscape school, Thomas Gainsborough was also the creator of the so-called ‘fancy picture’, depicting rustic figures - usually children - posed in rural settings. Born in Suffolk, he studied in London from about 1739 to 1748 under the French painter and engraver Hubert Gravelot and the British painter Francis Hayman at the St Martin’s Lane Academy. Gainsborough returned to Suffolk in 1748, where he worked as a landscape and portrait painter until 1759, before moving to Bath. There he quickly developed into a much sought-after society painter. In 1774, he moved to London where he exhibited his work in his studio. He died in London in 1788.

People

Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788)

Places

Subjects

painter, artist (as Subject), male portrait, 18th century costume

Materials & Techniques

engraving, stipple engraving

Artist

Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788)
John Jackson (1778 - 1831)
Henry Meyer (1782 - 1847)

Title

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) painter: self portrait

Date

published 27 November 1810

Medium

Stipple engraving

Dimensions

height: 42.20 cm, width: 31.90 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Grosvenor Prints, May 2002

Provenance

With Grosvenor Prints, London; from whom purchased by the Government Art Collection in May 2002

GAC number

17697