Gainsborough Paintings

Thomas Gainsborough is a famous British landscape painter from the 18th century. Gainsborough's most famous painting was Blue Boy, which many still love to buy as print reproductions and stretched canvases. This article covers some of his best paintings as well as examining the life of artist Gainsborough. Suffolk-born Gainsborough has gone on to become of of Britain's best loved artists and is revered alongside the likes of JMW Turner and Constable. His works remain in the Tate Britain, London in good numbers which is an sign of his great legacy to the British contemporary artists of today.

Gainsborough have a unique tendency for the time of painting from his observations and emotions than from traditional artistic teachings. This gave his paintings a special feel and character. Constable was certainly a fan of Gainsborough's work and shared his love of landscape painting. Blue Boy is an example of how he would include portraits of high ranking individuals, with great sprawling landscapes behind them, which was unusual at that time.

Alongside fellow British artist Richard Wilson, Gainsborough was one of the first members of the eighteenth-century British landscape school, although he still pursued portrait art as well, achieving great success on this area too, alongside the likes of Joshua Reynolds. The two artists had been rivals at times during their careers, with Reynolds and Gainsborough vying for the position of favoured royal artist during the times of King George III and later. Royal Academy president Reynolds struggled to match Gainsborough's popularity within this elite community.

Famous paintings by Gainsborough included Blue Boy, Landscape in Suffolk, Self-Portrait, Two Daughters with a Cat, Sunset, The Artist`s Daughters, Molly and Peggy, The Harvest Wagon, Portrait of Mrs. Graham; Mary and Margaret: The Painter's Daughters, William Hallett and His Wife Elizabeth, The Morning Walk and Cottage Girl with Dog and Pitcher.

In closing, there is no doubt of the effect of Gainsbrough paintings on British and international art in the 18th century and since, and his work is worth study in the key art galleries of London and nationwide.