Figures resting in a woodland landscape
Thomas Gainsborough
- Art Funded
- 2014
- Dimensions
- 23.2 x 29.1 cm
- Vendor
- Lowell Libson
Thicknesse remained close to Gainsborough throughout the artists life, and Gainsborough became a close friend of his family. In his biography of Gainsborough, Thicknesse wrote that his daughter prevailed upon [Gainsborough] to give her a little feint tinted drawing of his to copy, from which she made so exact a resemblance, that at a slight view, it was not readily distinguished from the original. According to the anecdote, Miss Thicknesses copy was so perfect that Gainsborough accidentally destroyed the drawing, mistaking it for his own work. Figures Resting in a Woodland Landscape bears an inscription to Miss Thicknesse, establishing it as one of the pieces the artist created for his patrons daughter. The picture confirms that Gainsborough gave encouragement, and perhaps tuition, to Thicknesses daughters the simplified forms and bold composition of the piece were probably designed for Miss Thicknesse to copy. It is also one of the few drawings that Gainsborough dated, making it an important piece in establishing a chronology of his drawn works.
Provenance
Ann Thicknesse; with Allen's Map and Print Warehouse, Dublin; Lady Emily Fitzwalter; by descent.
Share
Gainsborough's House
46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2EU
01787 372 958
Website
Opening times
Mon – Sat, 10am – 5pm, Sun from 11am
Closed Good Friday, 24 Dec – 1 Jan