Thomas Gainsborough(1727-1788)
Gainsborough was the youngest child of nine siblings. He attended grammar school. Already at this time the boy's artistic talent became known. From 1740 he graduated from St. Martin's Lane Academy and was a student of the French illustrator Hubert Gravelot, who taught him the art of engraving, and took up suggestions from F. Hayman. In 1748 he produced a view of Conrad Wood, which he entitled "Gainsborough's Forest". It is the painter's most important work from this era and also the first work in England in this Dutch style. The picture was a success for the painter, who was only twenty-one years old. In the same year he exhibited a painting at the Foundling Hospital in London. This event helped him gain fame as an artist. In 1746 he married Margaret Burr, daughter of the Duke of Beaufort. This union resulted in two daughters, Mary and Margaret, whom Gainsborough also portrayed. An annual princely payment of 200 pounds sterling made the couple economically independent.
After his father's death in 1748, he returned to his native town. After two years he settled in neighboring Ipswich until 1759. This scenic environment particularly influenced his pictures. There he worked mainly as a portrait painter. He prepared larger landscape works as open-air sketches in the Dutch style. He recreated the composition as a three-dimensional model using sand, moss and dolls. In 1758 Thomas Gainsborough spent some time traveling to central England, which he spent painting. In 1759 he settled with his family in Bath, a center of high society. There he made numerous portrait pictures in response to demand. During this time he also became acquainted with the works of the Flemish painter Sir Anthonis van Dyck, which influenced him. During the 15 years he lived in Bath, landscape painting took a back seat to his artistic motifs. Out of private interest, he took pictures of the Flemish painter, draftsman and etcher Peter Paul Rubens, which he repainted in modifications.
This is how, for example, the title "Harvest Wagon" by Thomas Gainsborough was created. In the 1860s, Gainsborough concentrated on the effects of light. He experimented with the effect of light on silk, satin and other fabrics. In 1762 he had an exhibition at the Society of Artists. In 1768 he was among the founding members of the Royal Academy in London. In 1774 the artist moved to London. From 1777 onward he portrayed members of the royal family. This made him known as a portrait painter in London and he received numerous commissions. In the same year he had an exhibition at the Royal Academy. In 1782 he made pictures of the monarch couple and their 13 children. After disputes with the Academy members, Thomas Gainsborough refused further exhibitions there. In the 1880s he found an imaginative language of expression in his portrait pictures. He also devoted himself to animal motifs. Using the painting technique, Gainsborough also created watercolors.
At the same time, some rural scenes (fancy pictures), mostly with children, were created based on B. E. Murillo. In his style, which is characterized by a fluid composition and various lighting effects, the English painter proved to be an early pioneer of landscape painting in the future century. Stylistically, his later work anticipated the Impressionist movement. His major works include "Mr. and Mrs. Andrews" from around 1748, which is now in the National Gallery in London, "The Boy in Blue" from 1770, and "The Morning Walk" from 1785/86 and today also hangs in the National Gallery, "The Swineherdess" from 1782 or the title "The Market Cart" from both years 1786 and 1787.
Thomas Gainsborough died in London on August 2, 1788.
After his father's death in 1748, he returned to his native town. After two years he settled in neighboring Ipswich until 1759. This scenic environment particularly influenced his pictures. There he worked mainly as a portrait painter. He prepared larger landscape works as open-air sketches in the Dutch style. He recreated the composition as a three-dimensional model using sand, moss and dolls. In 1758 Thomas Gainsborough spent some time traveling to central England, which he spent painting. In 1759 he settled with his family in Bath, a center of high society. There he made numerous portrait pictures in response to demand. During this time he also became acquainted with the works of the Flemish painter Sir Anthonis van Dyck, which influenced him. During the 15 years he lived in Bath, landscape painting took a back seat to his artistic motifs. Out of private interest, he took pictures of the Flemish painter, draftsman and etcher Peter Paul Rubens, which he repainted in modifications.
This is how, for example, the title "Harvest Wagon" by Thomas Gainsborough was created. In the 1860s, Gainsborough concentrated on the effects of light. He experimented with the effect of light on silk, satin and other fabrics. In 1762 he had an exhibition at the Society of Artists. In 1768 he was among the founding members of the Royal Academy in London. In 1774 the artist moved to London. From 1777 onward he portrayed members of the royal family. This made him known as a portrait painter in London and he received numerous commissions. In the same year he had an exhibition at the Royal Academy. In 1782 he made pictures of the monarch couple and their 13 children. After disputes with the Academy members, Thomas Gainsborough refused further exhibitions there. In the 1880s he found an imaginative language of expression in his portrait pictures. He also devoted himself to animal motifs. Using the painting technique, Gainsborough also created watercolors.
At the same time, some rural scenes (fancy pictures), mostly with children, were created based on B. E. Murillo. In his style, which is characterized by a fluid composition and various lighting effects, the English painter proved to be an early pioneer of landscape painting in the future century. Stylistically, his later work anticipated the Impressionist movement. His major works include "Mr. and Mrs. Andrews" from around 1748, which is now in the National Gallery in London, "The Boy in Blue" from 1770, and "The Morning Walk" from 1785/86 and today also hangs in the National Gallery, "The Swineherdess" from 1782 or the title "The Market Cart" from both years 1786 and 1787.
Thomas Gainsborough died in London on August 2, 1788.