THE PROPERTY OF A NOBLEMAN
Thomas Gainsborough, R.A. (1701-1788)
Details
Thomas Gainsborough, R.A. (1701-1788)
A Wooded Landscape with rustic Lovers, a Herdsman, Cattle and Sheep by a Pond
46½ x 58½in. (118 x 148.6cm.)
A Wooded Landscape with rustic Lovers, a Herdsman, Cattle and Sheep by a Pond
46½ x 58½in. (118 x 148.6cm.)
Provenance
George, 5th Earl De La Warr (1791-1869), by 1844; Christie's, 2 May 1857, lot 148 (425 gns. to Pennell)
Captain F. H. Huth; Christie's, 14 June 1907, lot 101 (5,700 gns to Agnew)
Sir George Donaldson (1845-1925)
with Knoedler, by whom purchased from the above in 1911 and sold to
J. Horace Harding, New York; sale, Parke Bernet, New York, 1 March 1941, lot 64 (to Knoedler)
with Knoedler, by whom sold to
The Hon. Michael Astor, by 1953; Christie's, 25 Nov. 1977, lot 164 (#180,000 to the present owner)
Captain F. H. Huth; Christie's, 14 June 1907, lot 101 (5,700 gns to Agnew)
Sir George Donaldson (1845-1925)
with Knoedler, by whom purchased from the above in 1911 and sold to
J. Horace Harding, New York; sale, Parke Bernet, New York, 1 March 1941, lot 64 (to Knoedler)
with Knoedler, by whom sold to
The Hon. Michael Astor, by 1953; Christie's, 25 Nov. 1977, lot 164 (#180,000 to the present owner)
Literature
G. W. Fulcher, The Life of Thomas Gainsborough, 1856, p.207
M. Mempes and J. Greig, Gainsborough, 1909, p.176
W. Heil, Die Gainsborough Ausstellung in Cincinnatti, Pantheon, Sept. 1931, pp.70 and 384
E. K. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, 1958, p.116, no.930, pl.133
J. Hayes, The Drawings of Thomas Gainsborough, 1970, p.223
J. Hayes, The Landscape Paintings of Thomas Gainsborough, 1982, pp.532-4, no.158, illustrated
This landscape can be dated to the London period c. 1784-85, when the artist was working in his final landscape style. It relates most closely in handling to 'The Harvest Waggon' (Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto) painted in the winter of 1784-5. The influences upon his landscapes were almost exclusively Dutch and Flemish, most especially the paintings of Jacob van Ruisdael and Jan Wynants, examples of which were readily available to the artist during his early years in Suffolk and London. Towards the end of his career the influence of Rubens' landscapes can be seen, in the darker palette and breadth of handling. A preparatory drawing for the present picture (in a London private collection) does not show the two lovers on the left hand side, the inclusion of which completes the focus and composed balance of the painting
M. Mempes and J. Greig, Gainsborough, 1909, p.176
W. Heil, Die Gainsborough Ausstellung in Cincinnatti, Pantheon, Sept. 1931, pp.70 and 384
E. K. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, 1958, p.116, no.930, pl.133
J. Hayes, The Drawings of Thomas Gainsborough, 1970, p.223
J. Hayes, The Landscape Paintings of Thomas Gainsborough, 1982, pp.532-4, no.158, illustrated
This landscape can be dated to the London period c. 1784-85, when the artist was working in his final landscape style. It relates most closely in handling to 'The Harvest Waggon' (Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto) painted in the winter of 1784-5. The influences upon his landscapes were almost exclusively Dutch and Flemish, most especially the paintings of Jacob van Ruisdael and Jan Wynants, examples of which were readily available to the artist during his early years in Suffolk and London. Towards the end of his career the influence of Rubens' landscapes can be seen, in the darker palette and breadth of handling. A preparatory drawing for the present picture (in a London private collection) does not show the two lovers on the left hand side, the inclusion of which completes the focus and composed balance of the painting
Exhibited
London, British Institution, 1844, no.136
London, Agnew's, 1907, no.11
New York, Knoedler, Loan Exhibition of Old Masters, Jan. 1912, illustrated p.16
New York, Knoedler, Paintings by Thomas Gainsborough, R.A., and J. M. W. Turner, R.A., Jan. 1914, no.27
New York, Knoedler, Pictures by Gainsborough, 1923, no.10
Cincinnati Art Museum, Paintings and Drawings by Thomas Gainsborough, 1931, no.30, pl.17
London, Agnew's, 1907, no.11
New York, Knoedler, Loan Exhibition of Old Masters, Jan. 1912, illustrated p.16
New York, Knoedler, Paintings by Thomas Gainsborough, R.A., and J. M. W. Turner, R.A., Jan. 1914, no.27
New York, Knoedler, Pictures by Gainsborough, 1923, no.10
Cincinnati Art Museum, Paintings and Drawings by Thomas Gainsborough, 1931, no.30, pl.17