The San Francisco call., 1899-12-26

From the original, by himseu, In the
who divided the honors with his dis
tinguished rival. Sir Joshua Reynolds
he painted the beauty OF English woman
hood as no one ever did before or since.
and in addition he was a landscape
painter of the first order.
Naturally so gifted a man must have
been little short OF a genius-a word
which really described this interesting
artist, since his success was the result
of little study or preliminary training,
but came rather by intuition. Sir Joshua
Reynolds said OF him: "If ever this ma
ton should produce genius sufficient TO
acquire TO US the honorable distinction
of an English school, the name of Gains
borough will be transmitted to posterity
in the history of art among the very first
of that rising name" And il will be re-
membered that Sir Joshua had no reason
TO be overfond of the man, for they were
deadly rivals in their art.
Thomas Gainsborough was born in
May, 1727. His parents were highly re-
spectacle people OF the middle class, and
at the time of the boys birth were liv-
ing in Sudbury. The mother had some
small taste in painting and was always
in touch with the aims OF her dis
tinguished son. AS n child he sketched
landscapes, and at II his parents were so
impressed with his talent that he was
sent 10 London and placed under the care
of a goldsmith. as a practical way OF de-
veloping his art taste. There he met an
engraver named Gravelot. who was i'm
pressed with his ability and succeeded in
gaining for him admission 10 the St.
Martins Lane academy, then a popular
art school in the metropolis. From
Gravelot the lad Thomas obtained much
valuable instruction in etching, and for
three years he worked at the academy.
where he fell in with dissOlute crowd,
and IL Is presumed that considerable OF
his time was wasted with convivial ac-
quaintances; these habits Of cOnviviality
clung to him through his later life. That
he did work, however, there is no doubt,
and, being naturally quick, he accom-
plished much more than the ordinary
pupil. firing Of school life, he started
out for himself, taking rooms in HattOn
Garden and setting up as a full-hedged
painter. While waiting for customers,
who rarely came 10 sit for him, he paint
ed many landscapes. veritable pOt-bOilers,
which he sold TO the dealers at absurdly
small sums. When sitter did come he
charged from G3 TO 60 for a portrait. a
year OF this was so discouraging that he
packed up and returned 10 his native
town. where, with the prestige of his
London experience, he became more or
less of a moderate success, and now he
than hitherto.
Always attractive personally and having
much distinction Of manner. a character
istic which clung TO him through life his
life in the metropolis added an extra poll
ish and refinement which greatly i'm
pressed his provincial friends. At 10 he
married. The vague reports OF the woman
Of his choice give little insight into his
home life, save that the wife was an or
binary woman and beneath him In every
way. She was a Miss Margaret Burr and
she had dOwry Of 600 year. Ii is re-
ported that she was a natural daughter Of
the Duke of Bedford. Whatever the in
advisability of the union, II does not seem
10 have handicapped him in his art, and
shortly he removed 10 Ipswich where for
fifteen years he lived in great content
ment, turning when the days work was
over TO his music, TO which he was pas
sionately devoted. In the meanwhile the
convivial habits acquired in London were
continued here, and with his friends ne
made merry in the tavern and drank far
into the night; not, however. as IL ap-
pears seriously TO the detriment OF his
art, for he went steadily forward in his
work.
An important change of residence took
place when Gainsborough upon the ad-
vice of an influential friend named Thick
nesse. went TO live at Bath. That city
was then the most fashionable resort I'm
all England, and probably no town Of
fered greater advantages for n portrait
painter. People of wealth and social pO-
sition, with plenty OF time hanging idly
on their hands, welcomed the opportunity
10 sit TO the artist and from the begin
ming. having taken a pretentiOus house.
Gainsborough never lacked for patrons.
He now charged 40 guineas for n half
lenth portrait and 100 for a full-lensth.
and had about all he could do. though ne
still found time to paint landscapes. The
Royal Academy was founded In lI6S. and
Gainsborough contributed 10 the eCOnd
exhibition. His connection with the insu
tuition however, is somewhat obscure,
though an r. a. was appended 20 his
name in the first catalogue: but he had
frequent and serious quarrels about the
hanging of his pictures. and was rarely
out OF hot water with the authorities Of
the place. Indeed, he seems to have been
of q somewhat impetuOus disposition. and
had many misunderstanding with his
friends all through life.
Thicknesse himself gave Gainsborough
many commissions both at Ipswich and
some yachts passing Landguard fort, With
a foreground of shore, with cattle. The
work, which was subsequently, damaged
so as to be lost. was engraved and the re-
production added considerably to the
painters reputation and spread his faMe.
astute man of affairs, devoted himself 10
Gainsborough's interests. and even after
that time, though separated by a serious
quarrel, he still maintained an active in
terest in the painters career, doing h,m
many services and calling attention TO the
excellence of his work. In time Gains
borough's reputation attracted the atten-
tion Of King George III. Pictures sent to
the Royal Academy and portraits of dis
tinguished men and women gave Gains
borough a vogue, so that he felt COM
PEELED TO return TO London and make the
most of MS talents in a material way
Thither in l74 he went, establishing hir1-
Pail Mall. Almost at once the King sent
for him and had him paint the DOrtraifs q