Gainsborough’s House (Sudbury, UK): Long loan to Gainsborough's House
- Artist
- Thomas Gainsborough 1727–1788
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 552 × 648 mm
frame: 708 × 818 × 66 mm - Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Presented by the family of Richard J. Lane 1896
- Reference
- N01484
Display caption
This lively and loosely sketched picture of an old horse dates most likely from the mid 1750s, relatively early in Gainsborough's career when he was still living in his native Suffolk.
Once in the possession of Gainsborough's family, the picture was described in 1896 as 'an aged cart-horse, much emaciated and just taken from work'. Sketched from life, it demonstrates Gainsborough's enjoyment in copying directly from nature, which he did throughout his life either for sheer pleasure or as preparatory study for elements in his finished oils.
Gallery label, November 1996
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