Thomas Gainsborough is one of a number of highly significant painters to have come from Britain during the 18th century and this article uncovers his life and career in full. There is also comment on his finest paintings as well, as the style of painting in which he was mostly involved. Gainsborough is still today seen alongside other greats within British art around this period, which includes Joshua Reynolds, George Stubbs, William Hogarth and many more.
Gainsborough's signature style, and considered most innovative during this period of art, was to complete commissioned portraits of noble members of 18th century society set against a backdrop of a stylish landscape. Previously, landscapes would never feature portraits within them, and portraits vice versa. Mr and Mrs Andrews is the best example of this ingenious method that helped to immediately get his work noticed and encourage others to try out this new way. Most significant British artist have become labeled in a similar way, with Romanticism for JMW Turner, Horse portrait for George Stubbs and landscapes for John Constable.
The most famous oil paintings from Thomas Gainsborough's extensive career included King George III, Mr and Mrs Andrews, The Blue Boy, The Watering Place, The Mall, St Marys Church Hadleigh, Shepherd Boys with Dogs Fighting, Linley Sisters and Landscape with Cattle. Gainsborough was particularly skilled in traditional oils which dominated during this time. In the modern day, mixed media is far more common and many different techniques and mediums are available to even every day artists.
We can conclude that Thomas Gainsborough is a highly respected oil painter from 18th century Britain who received high paying commissions from those who wanted to be included within his innovative career which blended portraits and landscapes together for the first time. The name of the artist remains strong today in the UK and USA, where most of his original paintings are held. The Tate Gallery and other London museum are the best places to see his original paintings in person, whilst the Blue Boy, which is his most loved painting, is on show in the USA. For those who appreciate the classic style of Thomas Gainsborough, other artists who are also likely to be of interest include Benjamin West, George Stubbs, John Constable, Joshua Reynolds and William Hogarth. This period was a major time for British art which was starting to contribute at last to the European arts scene which had previously been dominated by Italy, France,, Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
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