John, 4th Earl of Darnley
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 76 x 63.5 cm (29 15/16 x 25 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CAB
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Widener Collection
Accession Number
1942.9.22
Art Historical Context
Behold *John, 4th Earl of Darnley*, a captivating portrait by Thomas Gainsborough, painted 1785. This oil on canvas masterpiece, measuring 76 x 63.5 cm, captures the4th Earl—a prominent British nobleman and politician—in the elegant style of late 18-century aristocracy. Gainsborough, a leading figure in British Rococo portraiture, created this work near the end of his career just three years before his death, showcasing his mastery of depicting the elite with grace and vitality. Gainsborough's signature loose, fluid brushwork brings the Earl to life, with luminous colors and soft edges that e...
About the Artist
Thomas Gainsborough · 1727–1788
Thomas Gainsborough was born on 14 May 1727 in Sudbury, Suffolk, the youngest of nine children to wool dealer John Gainsborough and his wife Mary. Demonstrating prodigious talent from childhood, he sketched landscapes in the local woods and fields, fostering his lifelong passion for the genre. At age thirteen, he moved to London, where he trained under the French engraver and illustrator Hubert-Fr...