Thomas Gainsborough left his family home in Sudbury at age thirteen to pursue formal art training in London. Over the subsequent decades, he established himself as a central figure in eighteenth-century British art, moving between Ipswich, Bath, and London while balancing the rigorous demands of portraiture with his genuine preference for painting natural landscapes.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1727 and educated at Sudbury Grammar School, Gainsborough demonstrated artistic aptitude early in his childhood. By 1740, he moved to London to study under the engraver Hubert Gravelot. During this formative period, he associated with William Hogarth and assisted Francis Hayman with decorative projects at Vauxhall Gardens. These experiences provided him with a technical foundation that would support his later versatility as an artist and printmaker.
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After a period of living in Ipswich, Gainsborough relocated to Bath in 1759, residing at 17 The Circus. This shift proved significant for his career, as it allowed him access to a fashionable clientele. He began submitting works to the Society of Artists of Great Britain and subsequently became a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1769. Despite his commercial success in portraiture, he often expressed professional frustration, preferring the creative freedom found in landscape painting.
Final Years in London
In 1774, the artist settled at Schomberg House in Pall Mall, London. During this final phase, he produced portraits of notable figures, including King George III and Queen Charlotte. He also experimented with printmaking techniques such as soft-ground etching and aquatint. Throughout this time, he integrated his sitters into atmospheric, naturalistic settings, often using fluid brushstrokes to unify the subject with their environment. He died in 1788 and was interred at St Anne's Church, Kew.
Fast facts
- Born: 1727, Sudbury
- Died: 1788, London
- Buried: St Anne's Church, Kew
- Notable Works: Mr and Mrs Andrews, Sarah Rowlls Chad, Sir George Chad, Baronet of Thursford
- Primary Movements: Rococo, English painting
- Affiliation: Royal Academy of Arts
- Residence: Schomberg House, Pall Mall
Questions readers ask
Did Gainsborough prefer portraiture or landscape painting?
Although he earned his living as a prolific portraitist, Gainsborough consistently expressed greater personal satisfaction in painting landscapes.
What instruments did the artist play?
Gainsborough was an avid player of the viol da gamba and owned five of these instruments during his lifetime.
Achievements
- Notable work: Sir George Chad, Baronet of Thursford
- Notable work: Sarah Rowlls Chad
- Notable work: Mr and Mrs Andrews
- Movement: Rococo and English painting
