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Thomas Gainsborough

(1727-1788), Portrait and landscape painter

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

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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Thomas Gainsborough, by Thomas Gainsborough - NPG 4446

Thomas Gainsborough

by Thomas Gainsborough
oil on canvas, circa 1759
On display in Room 18 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4446

Thomas Gainsborough, by Francesco Bartolozzi, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG 1107

Thomas Gainsborough

by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Thomas Gainsborough
black and red crayon with pencil and grey wash on paper, circa 1797, based on a work of 1787-1788
NPG 1107

Thomas Gainsborough, by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by  John Boydell, published by  Josiah Boydell, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D34265

Thomas Gainsborough

by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by John Boydell, published by Josiah Boydell, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1 January 1798 (1787-1788)
NPG D34265

Thomas Gainsborough, by Henry Meyer, published by  T. Cadell & W. Davies, after  John Jackson, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D34266

Thomas Gainsborough

by Henry Meyer, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after John Jackson, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 27 November 1810 (1787-1788)
NPG D34266

Thomas Gainsborough, by Henry Meyer, published by  T. Cadell & W. Davies, after  John Jackson, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D14138

Thomas Gainsborough

by Henry Meyer, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after John Jackson, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 27 November 1810
NPG D14138

Thomas Gainsborough, by James Scott, after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D2411

Thomas Gainsborough

by James Scott, after Thomas Gainsborough
mezzotint, 1850s-1880s (1787-1788)
NPG D2411

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Thomas Gainsborough

by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by John Boydell, and published by Josiah Boydell, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 1 January 1798 (1787-1788)
NPG D20059

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