Marking the 300th anniversary of his birth, this landmark exhibition celebrates Thomas Gainsborough’s considerable influence on British art and examines his legacy today. The first major survey exhibition of his work in over 20 years, it brings together 120 paintings and drawings in a once-in-a-generation tribute to this much-loved, quintessentially Georgian artist.
Reflecting the full range and variety of Gainsborough’s practice, this exhibition explores the contrast between the glamour and polish of the society portraits that made his name, and the creative chaos in which he worked behind the scenes. It also examines the importance of his wife and daughters to his life and work.
The spirit of his studio space, where he experimented with the innovative techniques that elevated him above his peers, will be brought to life along with his passion for music and theatre that is so palpable throughout his work.
The exhibition traces Gainsborough’s life and relationships, from his formative years in Suffolk, to his flourishing portrait practice in Bath and London, concluding with the exquisite, lesser-known landscape paintings of his final years.
Supported by Tate Members.