Thomas Gainsborough (14 May 1727 – 2 August 1788) is considered to be one of the most famous portrait and landscape artists of 18th century Britain. Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk, England where his father worked as a school teacher. When he was fourteen, he impressed other with his skills with pencil and got attention from his father who in turn let him go to London to study art in the year 1740. During his studies in London, he trained under engraver Hubert Gravelot but eventually became associated with William Hogarth. One of the mentors of Thomas Gainsborough was Francis Hayman who contributed to the decoration of what is now the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children and the supper boxes at Vauxhall Gardens.
Gainsborough painted more from his observations of nature including human nature, than any application of formal academic rules. The poetic sensibility of which is found in his paintings made Constable to say, "On looking at them, we find tears in our eyes and know not what brings them." He himself once quoted, "I'm sick of portraits, and wish very much to take my viol-da-gam and walk off to some sweet village, where I can paint landscapes and enjoy the fag end of life in quietness and ease." His most famous works include Portrait of Mrs. Graham; Mary and Margaret: The Painter's Daughters; William Hallett and His Wife Elizabeth, nee Stephen, known as The Morning Walk; and Cottage Girl with Dog and Pitcher.
