Gainsborough’s Family Album


Charming exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery of portrait’s by Gainsborough of his own family.

It was so lovely in this show to see the circle of people around an artist brought back together again. From an early traditional picture of his brother, a non-conformist minister, though numerous pictures of his wife and daughters and even a picture of his dogs you get a sense of an extended family of the time and how it operated.

However I have a sneaking feeling this wasn’t just about sentiment but also about practicality. If you want to try out a new idea you can’t really use a commissioned work to do it so much better to turn to your family as a subject to try out in innovative idea. Also what a great selling point to come to the studio, to be welcomed by Mrs Gainsborough and to immediately see a portrait of her as an advert for the artist’s work.

Despite practicalities I think the show does include some of the best of Gainsborough’s pictures as we get a real sense of connection with the sitters. Who can resist the charming picture of his daughters chasing a butterfly and how lovely to then have a picture of them in their early 20s as a comparison. I loved the portrait which was left on his easel when he died of his nephew and studio assistant, Gainsborough Dupont, what a handsome face.

Closes on 3 February 2019

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