Room 117

Thomas Gainsborough

1727–1788, England (Sudbury, Bath, London), Rococo, English portrait and landscape painting

Gainsborough became famous for elegant portraits of English society, yet landscapes were what he loved to paint most. His portraits feel light and airy: he set down dresses and backgrounds with loose, shimmering strokes, often by candlelight and with very long brushes. In 1768 he was one of the founders of the Royal Academy in London.

All works