Portraits and Personalities Game

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Roger Fry said of Gainsborough:

‘He gives us living human beings in all the completeness, and uniqueness and complexity of their personality.’

But is it really possible to read the character of a person shown in one of Gainsborough's portraits?

Try our game to find out - Scroll through the images and click Match when you think you know have found the person being described by each piece of text . You can go through the descriptions in any order.

The actor The painter and assistant The Duke The grocer, writer and musician The politician Thomas Gainsborough

This man was a famous actor, known for his performances in great tragic roles and for playing Shakespeare's Falstaff. Back to list
This man was a painter, and Gainsborough’s assistant - though Gainsborough said he was a 'blockhead'. Back to list
This man was a Duke, but he was known for his kindness; even his tenants liked him. Back to list
This man was a grocer in Mayfair who also became known as a writer and musician. Back to list
This man was the Speaker at the House of Commons, and had a reputation for drinking. Back to list
This is Thomas Gainsborough. Back to list