Thomas Gainsborough Biography for Kids
Good afternoon. I am Thomas Gainsborough. Would you like a spot of tea? No?
Oh, you’re here to learn about me and my art. This is the Thomas Gainsborough biography for kids! Indeed, I was born in 1727 in Sudbury, Suffolk, England and I taught myself art at first. At age 13, I moved to London to study art. There I met my wife, Margaret, and together we had two daughters.
I made a modest living from my painting at first, and when we moved to Bath, I studied the portraits of Antoon van Dyck.
Then, I attracted a respectable clientele and became known as a great portrait painter. Sir Joshua Reynolds and I are the leading portraitists in England in the late 1800s! I am even the favorite painter of King George III – you know the king of England during that little conflict called the American War of Independence. Here is one of my portraits of King George III.
Here is a portrait of Queen Charlotte.
I also was a founding member of the Royal Academy of Art in London. It is frustrating that I have to paint so many portraits…
Here is my well-loved portrait The Blue Boy, which shows off my use of rich colors.
So many portraits!! But you see, what I really enjoy painting is landscapes. I paint portraits to live and landscapes because I love them. My favorite thing to do is make the landscapes look fancy using feathery brush strokes so they look imaginary or ideal.
You see, old chap, here is my most famous painting of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Andrews. It is a portrait, indeed, but it is also a landscape painting, which is so important to me.
Did you see the broccoli I have here?
I dare say, old chap, I use it as a model to represent the woods in the background of the landscape I am working on. Indeed, I use broccoli to paint my trees.
Here are the main things to remember about me. I am Thomas Gainsborough from England in the 1700s, a founding member of the Royal Academy of Art in London, known for my portraits with landscapes, feathery brushstrokes and use of broccoli as a model for my trees.
Investigate the life and art works of Thomas Gainsborough in this artist unit study!
Check out the video too!
Resources:
Get a free ebooklet on How to Draw a Face
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Thomas Gainsborough Artist of England
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