Thomas Gainsborough

The Holburne Museum, Bath is currently exhibiting a modest collection of Gainsborough's Landscapes specializing in Themes and Variations until 22nd January 2012. Gainsborough and I have both lived in Suffolk and Bath and it's not often you can share something in common with an 18th century artist.

 Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) was the most imaginative landscape painter in 18th-century England. The exhibition displayed a selection of 6 major paintings and additional drawings and sketches. The landscapes are not recognizable views because Gainsborough tended to work from his imagination. The landscapes were based on the experience of drawing from nature and an intimate knowledge of continental art of the previous century. Gainsborough focused on exploring every expressive possibility.

Close up of River Landscape with a View of a Distant Village
Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788)
 Oil on Canvas, about 1750, 75 x 151cm

Gainsborough's work had a good arrangement of objects and the artist's energetic technique along with a good sense of composition set him apart from other artists of his time. Gainsborough's brushwork created a beautiful sense of movement. This was partly due to the artist's colour palette. The use of light and dark aids the composition Gainsborough was famous for. The colours flow together to communicate all the objects which form an overall relationship with nature, landscape and imagination. The proportion of colour in Gainsborough's work was very important because all the colours created an overall tone when used together.

Girl with Pigs
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788)
Oil on canvas, 1781-82
125.7x148.5cm