Open landscape with figures, horses and cart

Hugh Belsey dates this drawing to the late 1770s. Gainsborough's portrait practice stalled after his move from Bath to London in 1774, giving the artist the opportunity to be more reflective and experimental. Making landscape drawings was a relaxation for him and at this time he developed the range and content of such works. The scalloped foliage and strong white highlights here are typical of this date.
This sheet has twice been sold in these Rooms; by the Earl of Warwick in 1896, and by Henry Pfungst in 1917. George Guy, 4th Earl of Warwick inherited a notable collection of art including that of his uncle, Sir Charles Greville (1763-1832). The 4th Earl continued to build on this, forming one of the most important collections of paintings, antiquities, sculpture and drawings in the country. When part of the Earl’s collection was sold in May 1896, eighteen drawings by Gainsborough (four portraits and fourteen landscapes) were included. Henry Pfungst was a wine merchant and collector, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries who owned nearly eighty Gainsborough drawings. He gave a number of items to several different departments of the British Museum, and a collection of prints to the Berlin Kupferstichkabinett.
We are grateful to Hugh Belsey for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.