Down a narrow side street in a small market town in Suffolk is the entrance to the home of one of Britain’s most renowned artists – Thomas Gainsborough. Born in the town of Sudbury in 1727 the home of his birth and childhood is now a popular and iconic house / museum.
In the past few years, the ramshackle previous home has undergone a major refurbishment and it was with excitement and slight trepidation that I headed down the street, past the house from the 1400s to the new main entrance – a bold modern three-storey building.
We were warmly greeted by staff and the new museum was explained in detail. First, we were advised to head to the top floor for panoramic views overlooking the town. What excellent advice and although I know the area well I could not help but be awed by the views of below and especially of the building and garden of our destination – Gainsborough’s House.
Standing there, in the newest of buildings, looking out to one built six hundred years ago, one would expect incongruity, a clash of centuries, but the addition and changes blend thoughtfully and cohesively together.
Once downstairs, having seen a couple of extra exhibitions on the other floors, we pushed open the heavy dark door leading to the start of the visit proper.
Initially, the dour gloom overwhelmed me before I took a sudden gasp of breath; within the gallery room hangs the most wondrous display of Gainsborough’s paintings.
I had seen many before and it is as if I were welcoming friends. They are perfectly lit.
The heavenly light from the landscapes emits its own brightness and life.
The portraits are exquisite, the women captured with depth and elegance.
The men display at times hidden pomposity, ensuring their grandeur and wealth are on display for all. One wonders how the artist had the patience with them all, only to learn he did not! Gainsborough did not enjoy having sitters and probably as a result turned out to be an extraordinarily fast painter.
All around is such incredible art I can’t help but sit down in the tranquil reverential silence and absorb the magical beauty surrounding me, including the stunning painting of these two dogs, their eyes so full of life I felt they were about to come bounding out the picture.
From this unexpected and dramatic introduction, we headed out to the serenity of the garden. Here an ancient four-hundred-year-old mulberry tree still bears fruit.
The yellow-painted house was just ahead and it was with intrigue I entered the house.
As Gainsborough’s House originally dates back to the medieval period some of the original beams from the era are visible. Also on show is an example of the style of the original build using wattle and daub (sticks & mud basically!). Gainsborough’s father, a merchant, ensured the family home was revamped in the modern Georgian style and much of the house remains as such.
On previous visits, the downstairs front room was a higgedly-piggledy collection of a tiny squashed cafe, a little shop corner and displays. Now the beautiful entrance hall leads us to the painting room.
This is the contemporary interior of what would have been a typical studio. As was the norm it is north facing (to avoid issues with changeable shadows through the day) and the room contains a rich array of artefacts. An easel with a canvas by Thomas Gainsborough’s nephew Thomas Gainsborough DuPont, who was the artist’s only assistant, is casually on display while nearby artist’s brushes are set on a wooden table ready to be picked up and used.
A glass case houses a unique collection of paint bladders – these are small animal bladders which contained the artist’s paint and a wooden stopper to ensure they were kept fresh. A large selection of these were found in the attic and there is good reason to believe they belonged to Gainsborough himself.
In the middle of the room is a most magnificent Star Printer which creates pictures from copper plate etchings and there is a stunning one made by Gainsborough on display.
Walking around the house one cannot help but reflect what it would have been like for Gainsborough to grow up here. His passion for painting was nurtured and encouraged by his father and Gainsborough was allowed to leave for London to learn more about the craft aged thirteen. His passion for nature, particularly the county countryside, is evident in his work although he turned to portraits, partly as a necessity to earn a living and he was a great admirer of Van Dyck’s work which is reflected in his paintings.
Gainsborough’s other love was music and the Music Room upstairs, which is accessed by the elegant and sweeping staircase, houses the country’s only double-manual harpsichord and this dates from 1738.
In the Constable room several of this other famous artist’s work is on display. John Constable was a close friend of Gainsborough and is said to have been influenced by Gainsborough creatively. Constable’s landscapes are legendary and great to see some of the smaller ones here. A case displays some of John Constable’s original set of brushes and also one of the artist’s most treasured items, a model of a horse made by Gainsborough.
With our hearts and minds replete with art and history we headed back to the garden and the new cafe. In harmonious quiet we contemplated the incredible history on our doorstep, the stunning art in such a close and intimate setting, all in the original home of the great artist. Mulling over the visit, we turned around and laughed – as we enjoyed our cakes we noticed another Gainsborough hanging nonchalantly behind us!
* “We love a genius for what he leaves and mourn him for what he takes away.” Thomas Gainsborough
“As we look at his pictures we find tears in our eyes and know not what brings them.” John Constable
Annika Perry 
Dear Annika
we have been there as well but we have to say we are no admirers of Gainsborough. For us his pictures are perfect in a their technique but the style hasn’t aged well – at least not for us. We prefer the Dutch artists like Vermeer (his forerunners).
But thanks a lot for for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Klausbernd, how lovely that you and Hanne have been to Sudbury and the museum. We live very close by and if you are in the area again please let me know. It would be great to meet up. As you probably saw there are cafes galore in Sudbury!
When we are around, we’ll give you a ring. Actually, it’s not that far from our place. We would like to meet you.
Thank you for tour, Annika!
My pleasure, Mark – thank you taking a look along as well!
I’m embarrassed to say I’m not familiar with Gainsborough, but his paintings look incredible! I’m so glad they created such a beautiful museum to share his life and work. I don’t use the word genius easily, but it sure sounds as if it applies to him.
Ann, I think Gainsborough is a very British artist and not so well known abroad. It is only through the museum being so close to home that I’ve been lucky to learn much more about him. It is amazing to see the work up close and the refurbishment is a fantastic asset to the visit. I’m smiling how you find him a genius as well – my emotional response too and it feels an honour to walk around the house and garden of his childhood.
What a fascinating and beautiful post, Annika! The art is so luminous and filled with life! Gainsborough was an interesting person, and it must have been wonderful to visit the museum and his house. Thank you for sharing your tour. ❤
Cheryl, I love your description of his art as ‘luminous’ – that’s the perfect word for his paintings! 😀 It feels a privilege to walk around his house, to try imagine his childhood life there, with his siblings, playing in the garden and of course, painting away! They have truly created an excellent musuem within this precious surrounding. Gainsborough sounds a kind industrious man and I felt for the sorrows that befell his daughters. Thank you for joining the tour! xx ❤️
Thank you for this very interesting tour Annika, it looks like there is so much to see.
Andrea, I love returning to art galleries and places like this as I see so many new things each time! Always a joy!
Amazing masterpieces… Beautiful 🙏. Thanks for sharing Annika.
So true, Lokeish and it never fails to hold me in awe how many masterpieces are ‘on my doorstep’ and in Gainsborough’s childhood home as well! It is an incredible feeling to view them here. Many thanks for your lovely comment and visit to my blog.
Darn, I’m sorry, but a bit of envy, dare I say, jealousy? crept up on me as I read your text and viewed the photos of this incredible museum that houses the fabulous work of Thomas Gainsborough. I happen to love that kind of painting (is it the English blood in me?) and could sit and study/ponder/admire a painting for hours. Interesting about his nephew – a DuPont. I wonder if he’s the same DuPont family that established itself in Delaware (USA) and became such a ‘powerhouse’ (starting from the military powder they made). Just musing there. And living in a town called Sudbury, I know I would love the town you visited. ❤
Pam, you have me giggling away! 😀😀 My friend, you are allowed to be a bit envious and you might be even more so if I say that Constable country is not far away either! We are truly spoilt and it is great to take the opportunity to enjoy the work and home of Gainsborough here! Like you, I sit down for ages and lose myself in his artwork, swivelling around on the bench to return to my favourites! I’ve never heard of DuPont fame – I’m off to learn more. I looked up at Thomas Gainsborough’s nephew and he died here in England. Yeah! How wonderful that you live in a Sudbury, just a bit away from this one though! 😀 I wonder what your town is like? Of course, this is a place you have to visit when / if you come back to the U.K. for a trip (and revisit your English roots?!) While here it would be great to meet up and share a cuppa and cake! Hugs xx ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing Annika! I felt as if I’ve had a firsthand tour myself!
Joseph, that’s terrific and so glad you felt as if you’ve visited Gainsborough House yourself! I hoped it would be as if readers experienced the visit themselves.
What a beautiful write, Annika! You’ve done a wonderful job in capturing your visit to this incredible home or museum. I love visiting artists’ homes, and you took me there with you through your writing. 🙂 Thank you so much for this beauty.
Khaya, bless! Thank you so much and your comment means a lot to me! There was so much I wanted to share but had to concentrate on just some of the visit. Snap! I love visiting artists’/writers’ homes very much and one of my other favourites is The Parsonage in Yorkshire of Bronte fame! Are there any museums/houses like this near you in Finland? I hope you’re making a good recovery, my friend. Take care and Happy Writing! xx
Yes, we have a few home museums like this in my city. But the Moomin Museum, though NOT house/home museum, tends to overshadow others as it is most popular and attracting visitors from all over the world. 🙂
One of my favorite British artists!
Mine too, Rosaliene – as you can probably guess and a joy to have the museum so nearby!
Thank you for sharing these fabulous photos of a walk through time! ❤
Layla, it is wonderful to tread the boards through time and a pleasure to share here!
Hi Annika,
we don’t like Gainsborough’s style and most of the paintings of this period.
Funnily Smitha V mentioned the Munch Museum. We blogged about it in March
We prefer the abstraction of Munch’s pictures. For us Gainsborough’s style trying to document nature, people, animals as realistic as possible is not something we would expect from a picture. Of course, it has it’s place in art history but we would not hang such pictures in our rooms.
Thanks for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you, Annika, for this beautiful walk through Gainsborough’s paintings and home. His artwork is exquisite. I like the clarity of each painting. The art room and music room are sophisticated. I wonder if this was how it was when he was alive or if it was after the refurbishment. I noticed similar wooden stoppers in the Munch museum but had no idea until I read your post what they were for. Thank you for describing all of it with great detail.
P.S. those dogs in the painting do look like they’ll step out at any moment.🙂
Smitha, thank you so much for your thoughtful and in-depth comment! 🙏
It is wonderful that you have been to the Munch Museum. What did you think of his work? I went there during a visit to Oslo a number of years ago while there was a retrospective of both Munch’s and Van Gogh’s paintings – a fabulous exhibition!
I love your description of Gainsborough’s artwork as ‘exquisite’ and this captures his incredible paintings exactly! It was fascinating to see all the art equipment and the paint stoppers were the best. I’m glad to solve that mystery for you!😀 I imagine the paint would have dried after a few hundred years.
What a lovely description of the painting room and music room as sophisticated and I found them so too – and it is great that Gainsborough’s love of both art and music is evoked in these rooms. They are both new displays and yes, were part of the refurbishment.
The painting room itself was a later addition by another owner.
Haha! Those dogs and their eager faces are just brilliant and almost has one reaching for a lead! 😀
Thank you, Annika, for sharing your visit to the Gainsborough house and museum. I enjoyed looking at the paintings you shared. You are a wonderful photographer! I liked your description of how he worked quickly on painting portraits because he wasn’t fond of sitters! Also, the painting of the two dogs is, as you said, very realistic. I agree that their bright eyes make them seem so alive.
Barb, thank you so much! 🙏 I was worried that just the camera photos would not be good enough but pleased they came out well – although they can never quite capture the wonder of the real paintings. However, the two dogs’ expressions are so vivid and yes, their eyes are incredibly alive!
We think of our time on this world as being so much more developed and sophisticated than earlier times, but when I see art like this, it really drives home the fact that people were incredibly smart and creative before we came along.
Thanks for the details about Gainsborough’s art and life. I enjoyed learning about animal bladders holding paint and the reason for a studio facing north.
Marian, I was fascinated with all the art materials and the animal bladders were the most interesting! I imagine the paint would be rather dry after a few hundred years! 😀 It just seems so odd to prefer a north-facing room for painting but such was the norm for artists of the time the volunteer informed me – I am not sure what is the practice nowadays but I always thought south would have been better!
Thank you for sharing this awesome tour with us. It is absolutely lovely, and you have described everything so beautifully.
Linda, bless you for your wonderful comment – thank you and I’m so glad you hopped on board the tour! 😀🙏
Interesting place to visit. Thanks for taking us along to the Thomas Gainsborough house. I like the exterior’s organized garden and the interior didn’t disappoint either. I didn’t know about a painter’s studio facing north to avoid shadows.
Ally, I must say I questioned the very helpful volunteer about the north-facing painting room as well as I’ve always imagined an artist wants the best light – ie. south facing. No, it seemed they preferred North! The garden is very tranquil and it was special to imagine the Gainsborough children playing there as young! I’m so glad you enjoyed my post, Ally and thank you for your lovely comment. xx
Beautifully written piece Annika! Thank you for taking us with you on your travels.
Ernie, thank you so much and wonderful to have you along on the exploration of Gainsborough House – albeit virtually!😀
Such an interesting post, Annika, thanks for the wonderful experience you’ve given me! Love his works of art… and the history of the place.
Iris, yes, it is an incredible combination – to view his beautiful artwork in his childhood home! It gives such a wonderful personal and intimite experience to this great artist, his life and paintings.
🎨🤗❤️
How amazing to see so many Gainsborough’s together. Must put Suffolk back on the list when our hectic house move is over.
Georgina, it was definitely amazing to see so many together, so beautifully displayed and so many more in his home. Yikes, I can imagine it is very hectic moving from abroad – it is tricky enough just in the country. Have you got a house here yet? Whereabouts are you moving to? When you’re settled back I hope you get a chance to come to Suffolk – and there is also Constable Country nearby to enjoy. If you do come, please drop me a line and it would be lovely to meet up.
Sorry a bit confusing but moving our London family home where my younger daughter lives to Leicestershire. Whew! Moving from Navasola, not yet and would need to leave a lot of books! But beginning to think about doing so as neither of us getting any younger!
Well, that is slightly easier and hope it all goes well. There is a lot of planning on moving back and understand this will not be an easy decision. As for the books, I feel for you and all those you would need to leave behind.
We used to visit Suffolk, not far from Rendlesham and some of Trevor’s cousins live that way too. So yes, would love to meet up if we come over your way.
What a great experience you had, Annika. One of my favorite things to do when travelling is to visit the homes where well known artists or writers once lived. I visited Beethoven’s apartment in Vienna. Lord Byron’s Rome residence. Vincent Van Gogh’s house in Amsterdam and Keats house in London. So, it was with great pleasure that I enjoyed your tour of Gainsborough’s house. Thank you for this joyful moment, Annika ❤ The cakes at the new cafe looked very tempting! 🙂
Wow! Carol, those are some amazing places to see and it does give such an insight to the people and their influences, don’t you think? Although I’ve been a few times to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam (which is amazing) I’ve never been to his home there and it is now definitely going on my places to see! Here in England as young we went numerous times a year to the Bronte Parsonage in Howarth in Yorkshire and even then so taken with the drama of the moors, the house, the displays of their tiny books etc. Jane Austen’s house in Bath was great too – just a tad too busy as it was a rainy day and packed with tourists! Carol, it’s wonderful you enjoyed my post – thank you! 🙏 Oh, the cakes were delicious – I’m always partial to a cream tea and will nearly always opt for this choice. Happy Travels, my friend!❤️
Thank you what a beautiful post!
It’s wonderful you enjoyed my post! Thank you for reading and for your comment.
Thank you for the tour of the artist and his life, Annika. Your experience helps bring to life an artist whose work is often called too old fashioned.
Mary Jo, thank you so much and it means a lot that I managed to convery his life through this tour. Haha! Yes, I can well imagine to many his work would seem old-fashioned – yet thankfully his work is still held in high esteem by many others!
I enjoyed taking this tour with you, Annika! What a great consideration that the new building blends in with the 600 years old building. I often wonder how long it took to paint portraits. Thomas Gainsborough did very well in painting portraits even though he was impatient and did it fast. The light in the landscape looks like lighting up the rest of the painting. What a treat to learn about the artist’s life and see his work. Your cake looks yummy!
Miriam, your comment about the light is just what I felt when viewing the paintings – it almost felt like the external lighting is superfluous for the landscape pictures! Seeing the many models in the painting room I hadn’t realised that artists use these to aid them in their creations and therefore less need for a sitter to be present in person for long periods of time. Although some of the house is 600 years old most of it is now from the Georgian period about 300 years ago. Miriam, it’s lovely to have you along on the tour and thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. xx ❤️
What a wonderful visit, Annika, and your description is so elegant and perfect. His paintings are gorgeous to say the least. Thanks for taking us on this beautifully visual tour.
Bless you for your wonderful comment and reflections on my post, Lauren; it truly warms my heart! It is always fun with virtual tours and I’ve enjoyed sharing my visit to Gainsborough House here – thank you for coming along! xx❤️
Thank you so much for this beautifully photographed and described tour which would no longer be possible for me, Annika
Derrick, thank you so much for your kind words about my post! I was a bit worried about the photographs as they were taken with varying light with just my phone but glad they came out well. I’m sorry to hear such a visit would not be possible for you; just to let you and others know, it is fully accessible with lifts in both buildings. I was surprised with the one in the old Gainsborough House and this is a recent addition during the refurbishment. I’m glad you could enjoy the tour virtually here.
What a rich post, so much to absorb! I love the detail about Gainsborough’s becoming a rapid painter to avoid having to spend too much time with his sitters. I also loved the detail of the paint bladders. Of course, now I need to know if painters from the time made their own paint, and if so, how–and if not, who did make it. Thank you for your generosity in putting this post together for us to enjoy!
What a good question, Liz and one I should have asked the volunteer! She was a lovely lady and told me so much – I felt like taking notes to ensure I remembered everything! It was unusual that Gainsborough only had one assistant as often they had many more – maybe their job would have included making the paints. I’ll make sure to ask on my next visit! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sharing about the museum here and find I take in much more when sharing about a place. Many thanks for your lovely comment and interest. X
You’re welcome, Annika! I look forward to learning more. 🙂
I loved this tour, Annika. Thank you for taking us with you!
Donna, thank you so much and I’m so glad you enjoyed learning a bit about Gainsborough House – a very special place.
Thank you for this wonderful mini, historic tour of Thomas Gainsborough, Annika. It must have felt like being in a time capsule. ❤
Debby, exactly! At certain moments felt so transported in time I wouldn’t have been surprised to come upon a young Gainsborough painting away in one of the rooms – or playing tag with his siblings around the mulberry tree! 😀
What an amazing experience! 🙂
What a beautiful little museum and your description of your visit was very interesting reading. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you so much, Thomas and it is very special place to visit. A small museum but that makes it an even more intimate and immediate experience- and feels amazing to be walking where Gainsborough lived nearly three hundred years ago!
I didn’t even know one could visit his house. Even in photos that heavenly light shines out. I have always wondered how painters manage to capture light like that.
Me too! I find myself mesmerised by the light, studying it – feels surreal and elusive! It must take such a skill. I also loved the sheer quality of the silk dresses and the shadows upon them. The house was bought in 1966 and has been open for visitors for a long time but until recently just the immediate house – the new additions make for a whole new experience and it is now an major museum / gallery / printing press in the area. Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Janet. Xx
What a lovely way to spend a day, Annika. Thank you for taking us with you. I felt like I visited there myself. I must also thank you for the wonderful review you posted of my book. So kind of you to take the time to write that. I’m grateful and humbled. 💗🙏
Lori, it was a great day out where the soul, mind and emotions felt replete! Lovely you could tag along even if from afar! 😀 Truly it was a wonderful to read your amazing book and I’m eager for the sequel! So glad you liked the review. Xx ❤️
Lovely visit and description.
Pat, thank you so much! 🙏
Annika, thanks for sharing your lovely visit to this house. What an awesome selection of photos!
Jennifer, it’s wonderful you enjoyed reading about Gainsborough’s house and the photos! Oh, I had so many to choose from it took a while to whittle them to these! I did make a Vimeo video with the rest of them and quite chuffed with it but then couldn’t share on WP for some reason. Grrr…
A wonderful post nevertheless! ☺️
Many thanks for sharing your lovely tour! You did such a great presentation. I love the work of both these artists and would love to see that museum some time.
Lynette, I think it is even more special to visit places from the artists life if you’re familiar with their work and this sounds like a place you would thoroughly enjoy. Thank you for your kind words and glad you liked the presentation – at times the photos seem to have a mind of their own how they appear on WP but got there in the end! 😀
I just looked at the Philadelphia art museum’s website, and learned that seven oils by Gainsborough currently are on display. I’ll look at them the next time I’m at the museum.
Neil, it’s great you have a chance to see some yourself and looked up about the Philadelphia Art museum. I took a quick look online and they have some great exhibitions and Friday evenings wine viewing etc looks fun! 😀
What beautiful work, Annika. I love the softness of his paintings and his use of light. How fun to visit. I visited a lovely museum in Chicago recently where the rooms seemed dark, and yet they showed off the artwork beautifully. Thanks for the exceptional tour of Gainsborough House and his artwork.
Diana, I’ve visited so many art galleries over the years in Europe and US and never come across such darkened rooms before! It was very strange to start with but yes, they do seem to highlight the works perfectly. The only problem was that they had information leaflets about the paintings but these were nigh impossible to read! Gainsborough seem to have a magic touch and indeed, the softness and light is almost ethereal, totally mesmerising. Thank you so much for your lovely comment, it means a lot!
That’s pretty dark, Annika. Lol. And “ethereal” is a perfect description.
The personal printing press is impressive – as are the plates made (by the artist of course) for imprints…DIY is labor intensive in so many areas other than the actual creation of (he)art. Very admirable.
Great tour, Annika. Seems like you’re enjoying getting out and about. Fantastic!
Laura, I was rather taken with the painting room and it’s printing press. My husband had viewed the whole downstairs while I was still in this room talking away to the volunteer! Gainsborough’s actual copper etching was astonishing, and yes, both full of heart and art!! All done mirror image (think that is right) and then to see the final picture – wow! It’s great how the museum has taken up the interest of printing and created an whole printing room for people to use, running classes and tours! It’s uplifting and inspiring with trips out like this and making the most of summer! Xx
Wow! What a fabulous visit! Thanks for taking us along with your pictorial treat. Beautiful pictures. Lovely post! Thanks for sharing.
Awww … I like the sound of that, ‘pictorial treat’! Thank you so much, Balroop and it’s great that you enjoyed the post.
This seems to be a great art museum Annika, and the new building fits in well with the old. Your description gives a great feeling of the place, and it must have been wonderful to see all those original masterpieces, including the one in the cafe – was it a portrait of some 18th century worthy eating a current bun!
The whole place, including the garden, seems to give off a feeling of peace and serenity. And to think that his house is now over 600 years old. Wattle and daub is stronger than you think.
Hopefully I’ll be able to visit someday.
Mike
Mike, it is perceptive of you to see how the two buildings fit well together – I had expected quite the opposite – the stark modern facade of the new one seems to bend to Gainsborough’s creativity, the colours locking into the other era.
Haha! Now, that would have been an original portrait painting, eating a current bun!😀 Alas not, ‘just'(!) another landscape!
Indeed the whole visit exuded peace and tranquility – everything else forgotten as I was totally absorbed in the artist’s life, home and paintings. I do hope you have a chance to visit sometime. Thank you for your lovely comment, Mike 🙏
Genius are so often haunted souls. Loving one–a challenge I would hope I could rise to. Lovely pictures to provide context for Gainsborough’s genius.
So true, Jacqui and although one didn’t get a sense of a haunted soul in Gainsborough his two daughters did lead unhappy lives. It’s great you’ve picked up on the title – I had some other ideas as well but kept coming back to this one – sums up the man and his creative ability!
What loveliness, Annika. Loved the narration of the tour. Delightful. Thank you.
Bless, thank you so much, Selma! That’s wonderful.
Thank you for the lovely tour, Annika. The garden is breathtaking. I can only imagine the lovely aroma filling the air. Beautiful!
Jill, there is such a sense of peace and joy in the garden. During Gainsborough’s lifetime it was much bigger and that makes sense as the mulberry tree now seems a bit ‘squashed in’. So glad you enjoyed the tour! xx ❤️
Thank you Annika for taking us with you on this wonderful tour❤️❤️😊😊 have a lovely week.
Michelle, it’s wonderful that you enjoyed the tour – thank you! Good luck with the book release next week! xx
i am so glad to walk this wonderful museum with you, thank you for taking us and for your clear emotional and historical way of bringing the museum to life..
It feels quite remarkable to have such an important Artist’s home and work in a rural market town.
I have seen the old museum and like you was taken with the wonderful light that shines from his landscapes. They are fabulous.
Didn’t know he didnt like the portrait painting but can see why it paid well. They are all filled with beauty and expressions.
I have never seen the paint bladders before and am glad you included them in your collection of photographs. The Harpsichord is just something too. Does it ever get played?
So, as Mr Gainsborough proudly watch from top of the town you have your scone and bun. :)) x
Miriam, wow! Thank you for your wonderful comment & thoughts about my post and I loved reading your insights.
I know, having such a significant artist’s home & museum so close in this small market town does feel incredible. It is great you have been to the house pre-refurbishment and you will so many changes when/if you visit again. With the new additions & changes they have elevated the place to an important national museum level and I am sure it will see many more visitors in the future.
The lighting of the painting is amazing, surreal almost and yes, I was taken with the expressions of any of the sitters, their innate beauty seeming to shine through.
What a good question about the harpsichord – I am not sure if it ever gets played; I was tempted to see if it worked but luckily good sense ruled!
Haha! I love the thought of Thomas Gainsborough watching over us all – I do wonder what he would have thought of the museum, the visitors traipsing through the house? Probably quite amused and proud!
Thank you again for your special comment, Miriam! hugs xx ❤️
This is a visit in words. I was with you and enjoyed the pictures too. An enticement to go. It is on my list. Lovely.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and I’m smiling about that ‘a visit in words’ – beautiful! So glad you came along and enjoyed it and hope you have a chance in person sometime! It is very special.
Hi Annika, what a fabulous place to visit. Thank you taking us on this beautiful tour.
Robbie, so glad you could tag along – a joy to share about his home and art!
Thank you ♥ for this rich window into the work and the environment of Thomas Gainsborough. A genius in the way light shapes things.
Ashen, thank you for your poetic comment and yes, a true genius with light – absolutely breath-taking. ❤️
Thank you for sharing this extraordinary visit. It is wonderful that the town was able to restore so much of Gainsborough’s home and environment.
Bernadette, it is a joy to share here and so much more I could have put in. I saw that it was bought up in 1966 to first become a smaller museum of just the house and this recent refurbishment has lifted into another level altogether. We often go for walks along where Gainsborough and Constable painted and special to see some of the same views untouched.
Thank you, Annika, for your most interesting post about my favorite painter.
You included all the important details, and the photos in your presentation are
wonderful.
Joanna
Thank you so much, Joanna! 🙏 I am not sure where you live but this is obviusly a place you would love to visit. There was so much more I could (and wanted) to write about but best to highlight the main points. So glad you liked the presentation!
I would love to see it, but have many obligations here, that is in Hertfordshire.
I live on the other side of London.
My blog might be of interest if you look up when time allows my older posts unless you have a cat or a dog because the last post was all about cats, and the next one this Thursday will be all about dogs.
Joanna
Joanna, you’re not far and hopefully one day when less busy you may have a chance to visit. Constable country is also close by and amazing to walk and see some of the views both artists painted.
I’ve just seen you wonderful cat post – absolutely fascinating and left a comment there.
Thank you, I will read it! You are right, Annika, there is always tomorrow…
Joanna
I love visiting places like this. You described it all so well I felt I was there with you.
That’s lovely, Darlene! 😀 It’s a special place and the house exudes a sense of the past. We are lucky to be blessed with many such places nearby – a visit to Constable country very close to us beckons, methinks! Hope you are having a good summer. Are you in Spain? The heatwaves there have been alarming and hope you are all okay.
I am in Spain and it is hot but we are managing OK. I’m off to Scotland in a couple of weeks and looking forward to some cooler weather. xo
Glad you are okay and have a wonderful time in beautiful Scotland and yes, thankfully cool!