How old was Thomas Gainsborough when he started to paint?
The building still survives and is now a house-museum dedicated to his life and art. When he was still a boy he impressed his father with his drawing and painting skills, and he almost certainly had painted heads and small landscapes by the time he was ten years old, including a miniature self-portrait.
Why is the Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough famous?
For several hundred years, the portrait of The Blue Boy has been transfixing those who see it and is famous for the curious, defiant gaze of its subject, a boy, wearing unique attire. Interestingly, the story of this iconic work of art by Thomas Gainsborough is as colourful and lavish as the subject’s blue pantaloons!
Why was Thomas Gainsborough important to the 18th century?
Along with his rival Sir Joshua Reynolds, he is considered one of the most important British artists of the second half of the 18th century. He painted quickly, and the works of his maturity are characterised by a light palette and easy strokes.
What kind of art does Gainsboroughs house have?
Gainsborough’s House also owns a significant number of works by other notable figures in the field of eighteenth-century British art, providing a valuable framework for interpreting Gainsborough’s art in its historical context.
The building still survives and is now a house-museum dedicated to his life and art. When he was still a boy he impressed his father with his drawing and painting skills, and he almost certainly had painted heads and small landscapes by the time he was ten years old, including a miniature self-portrait.
Who was Thomas Gainsborough and what did he do?
The portrait and landscape painter, Thomas Gainsborough is considered one of the most important British artists of the late 18th century. Born at Sudbury, Suffolk, Gainsborough was the youngest son of a cloth merchant.
Who was the prince who commissioned Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait?
In her hand she holds a locket, opened to reveal the blurred face of George, Prince of Wales, who commissioned Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of his lover in 1781.
How did David Gainsborough set himself apart from other artists?
A pure reliance on academic technique would lead to many artists appearing from a production line, so his own approach enabled Gainsborough to set himself apart. He also used lighter colours later in his career and regularly painted at night by candlelight.
