Thomas Gainsborough

Mr and Mrs Carter

c.1747–8

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

In Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art: 1730

Free

Artist: Thomas Gainsborough 1727–1788
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 912 × 710 mm
frame: 1092 × 896 × 92 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Bequeathed by Simon Sainsbury 2006, accessioned 2008
Reference: T12609

Display caption

This is one of Gainsborough’s earliest works. William and Frances Carter were wealthy landowners who lived near Sudbury in south-east England where Gainsborough was born. This painting was made while Gainsborough was living in London, but returning to Sudbury regularly to visit family. Critics disagree about why the difference in William and Frances’s size appears exaggerated. Some argue that as an early work, this indicates a painter still developing his skills. Others suggest that the marked contrast in their size is intended to be comical.

Gallery label, July 2019

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

nature(45,225)
- landscape(25,918)
- - forest(270)
- natural phenomena(3,159)
- - shadow(1,313)
- weather(3,586)
- - sunshine(506)
objects(23,363)
- clothing and personal items(5,879)
- - coat(309)
  - dress(375)
  - hat(1,444)
  - wig(76)
- fine arts and music(3,769)
- - sculpture(678)
people(35,142)
- adults(22,742)
- - man(10,483)
  - woman(9,059)
- named individuals(12,487)
- - Carter(1)
  - Carter(1)
- portraits(4,429)
- - individuals: female(1,664)
  - individuals: male(1,854)
society(34,938)
- family(4,136)
- - husband(1,418)
  - wife(1,588)

You might like

Manner of Thomas Gainsborough Mrs Sarah Walker

c.1770
Thomas Gainsborough Peter Darnell Muilman, Charles Crokatt and William Keable in a Landscape

c.1750
Thomas Gainsborough Landscape with Figures under a Tree

c.1746–7
Thomas Gainsborough The Rev. John Chafy Playing the Violoncello in a Landscape

c.1750–2
Thomas Gainsborough Landscape with a Peasant on a Path

c.1746–7
Thomas Gainsborough Wooded Landscape with a Peasant Resting

c.1747
Thomas Gainsborough Landscape with Gipsies

c.1753–4
Thomas Gainsborough An Old Horse

c.1755
Formerly attributed to Thomas Gainsborough ‘The Parish Clerk’ (Edward Orpin, Parish Clerk of Bradford-upon-Avon)

c.1760–70
Thomas Gainsborough Edward Richard Gardiner

c.1760–8
Thomas Gainsborough Sunset: Carthorses Drinking at a Stream

c.1760

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
George Romney Mr and Mrs William Lindow

1772
Thomas Gainsborough Mrs Susanna Gardiner

c.1780–5
Thomas Gainsborough Abel Moysey

c.1764
Thomas Gainsborough An Officer of the 16th Light Dragoons

c.1765

In the shop

Browse the shop