Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was born in the spring of 1727 in Sudbury, Suffolk, England.
Gainsborough showed an early talent for drawing, which his father encouraged him to pursue. Famous painters such as Hogarth and van Dyck influenced Gainsborough. Gainsborough favored landscapes and becoming a master of light and brushwork. When Gainsborough later shifted his work to portraiture for income, he not only attracted the attention of King George III along with other nobles, but it also made him a contender for the position of royal painter. After being elected a founding member of the Royal
Academy, he then moved his studio to London. A portrait titled The Blue Boy is said to be his most famous work. Gainsborough died in
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Martin’s Lane under William Hogarth and other masters known for etching, historical painting and portraiture in London, England. He fell in love with an illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, in turn, her dowry allowed him to set up a studio by the time Gainsborough was 20 in
Ipswich.
Unfortunately, Gainsborough’s landscapes were not selling so he started doing portraiture.
Gainsborough moved his wife and two daughters to Bath, which had a bigger upscale clientele. He then studied the painter Sir Anthony van Dyck for insight into technique. Gainsborough’s reputation started to grow. A lot of attention was attracted to his work from his portraits being sent to the Society of Arts exhibitions in London. By 1774, Gainsborough was so successful that he needed to live in London. Shortly after moving, he was summoned to the palace and began painting portraits of King George III and other nobles.
Although the king named Gainsborough’s rival, Joshua Reynolds as the official court painter,
Gainsborough still remained the royal family’s favorite. Gainsborough died August 2, 1788 of cancer at the age of 61. St Anne’s church at Kew is where he requested to be buried- the royal family’s main residence that is known for its lush and