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Thomas Gainsborough

(1727-1788), Portrait and landscape painter

Sitter in 8 portraits
Artist associated with 268 portraits
Landscape and portrait painter. Gainsborough worked in his native Sudbury and then Ipswich until 1759 when he moved to Bath and established a fashionable portrait practice. Settling in London in 1774, he was Joshua Reynolds's only real rival as a portrait painter. Gainsborough quarrelled with the Royal Academy over the exhibition of his pictures; he was highly-strung in personality, a lively letter writer and devoted to music. Garrick said 'his cranium is so crammed with genius of every kind that it is in danger of bursting on you like a steam engine overcharged'.

More on Gainsborough: Gainsborough's Family Album exhibition | Explore the portrait of Thomas Gainsborough by E. Ortner (NPG D2917) from all angles

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John Henderson, by and published by John Jones, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D14430

John Henderson

by and published by John Jones, after Thomas Gainsborough
mezzotint, published 30 May 1783 (circa 1773-1775)
NPG D14430

(Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer, by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by  Charles Townley, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D14814

(Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer

by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by Charles Townley, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1 January 1783
NPG D14814

Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, by George Keating, published by  William Austin, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D35034

Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby

by George Keating, published by William Austin, after Thomas Gainsborough
mezzotint, published 20 May 1785
NPG D35034

Elizabeth Ann Sheridan (née Linley), after Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D37355

Elizabeth Ann Sheridan (née Linley)

after Thomas Gainsborough
mezzotint printed in colours, (1785-1787)
NPG D37355

Sarah Siddons (née Kemble), after Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D41676

Sarah Siddons (née Kemble)

after Thomas Gainsborough
offset lithograph printed in colours, (1785)
NPG D41676

John Henderson, by John Jones, published by  John Sewell, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D18096

John Henderson

by John Jones, published by John Sewell, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1 January 1786
NPG D18096

John Henderson, by John Jones, published by  John Sewell, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D18104

John Henderson

by John Jones, published by John Sewell, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1 January 1786
NPG D18104

William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (Lord Shelburne), by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D37170

William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (Lord Shelburne)

by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1787
NPG D37170

William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (Lord Shelburne), by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D5019

William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (Lord Shelburne)

by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1787
NPG D5019

William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (Lord Shelburne), by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D14181

William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (Lord Shelburne)

by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1787
NPG D14181

Thomas Pennant, by and published by Peter Mazell, and by  John Keyse Sherwin, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D14536

Thomas Pennant

by and published by Peter Mazell, and by John Keyse Sherwin, after Thomas Gainsborough
line engraving, published 20 June 1787
NPG D14536

Thomas Pennant, by and published by Peter Mazell, and by  John Keyse Sherwin, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D18856

Thomas Pennant

by and published by Peter Mazell, and by John Keyse Sherwin, after Thomas Gainsborough
line engraving, published 20 June 1787
NPG D18856

George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham, by John Keyse Sherwin, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D32297

George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham

by John Keyse Sherwin, after Thomas Gainsborough
line engraving, published 1788 (1787)
NPG D32297

John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D14062

John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich

by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, after Thomas Gainsborough
line engraving, published 1788
NPG D14062

King George IV, by John Raphael Smith, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D10984

King George IV

by John Raphael Smith, after Thomas Gainsborough
mezzotint, published 1789 (1782)
NPG D10984

William Pitt, by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, and published by  Robert Wilkinson, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D40236

William Pitt

by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, and published by Robert Wilkinson, after Thomas Gainsborough
line engraving, published 15 June 1789
NPG D40236

William Pitt, by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, and published by  Robert Wilkinson, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D40249

William Pitt

by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, and published by Robert Wilkinson, after Thomas Gainsborough
line engraving, published 15 June 1789
NPG D40249

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