Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788)

Details
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788)

Repose (cf. Hayes 22)

etching with aquatint printed in grey-brown, probably late 1770s, on laid paper, very rare, trimmed to the subject, paper abrasions at the reverse sheet corners, generally in good condition
S. 206 x 273mm.
Provenance
An unidentified pencil inscription 'No. 13', verso

Lot Essay

Probably the very rare 'untraced print' referred to by John Hayes under catalogue no. 22. He titles the subject 'Wooded Landscape with Horses, Cows and Sleeping Herdsman (Repose)' after the related drawing and painting in the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery, Kansas City. The artist experimented with the composition in the print and drawing. The central group of cattle is similarly placed although the large horse in the painting appears as a cow in the print. Instead of the sleeping herdsman on the left, there is a woman (?) and child at the centre. The 'broken tree' which was formerly in the painting on the left (now known from an engraving) appears between the cattle and the cottage in the background of the print.

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