Fallen Tree

Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788)

Gainsborough's House

circa 1754

Sketch of a tree which, having fallen some time ago, continues to sprout branches. The artist pays particular attention to the exposed root structure, which is zoomorphically drawn to suggest a monstrous open mouth. Farm buildings are shown behind. Fallen trees were a favourite foreground motif in the landscapes of those seventeenth century Dutch artists Gainsborough most admired. A similar tree is used in his work 'Wooded River Landscape' of 1754-56.

• Medium: pencil on paper
• Dimensions: 14.3 x 18.4cm
• Art Fund Grant: £13400 ( Total: £28,000)
• ArtFunded in: 2003
• Vendor: Agnew's

Provenance

Margaret Gainsborough; ... ; Stanhope Shelton; private collection; Christie's 2000; Andrew Wyld; Agnew's

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