The Honourable Mrs. Graham, Thomas Gainsborough (1777)

The title of the painting is The Honourable Mrs Graham, it was painted by Thomas Gainsborough in seventeen seventy-seven (1777).

Thomas Gainsborough was born in seventeen twenty-seven (1727) in Sudbury, England.

He died on the 2^nd of August seventeen eighty-eight (1788) of cancer. Thomas Gainsborough was one of the most famous portrait and landscape painters of 18^th century Britain.

Gainsborough painted nature, according to his observation, instead of using formal rules.

His best works are:

-“Portrait of Mrs Graham”

-“Girls painters”

-“Matinal ride (1785)”

-”Cottage Girl and dog with pitcher (1785)”

This painting, The Honourable Mrs Graham, is in fact a noble woman’s portrait.

This woman is situated in the middle of the picture, the monument near her is synonymous with wealth.

The bottom of the picture is black to set out the character. She is wearing a white dress, we can suppose that she is rich considering to her clothes. There is a column, which is the symbol of ancient Greek temples, it is to emphasize her better.

The woman has got long hair, she is wearing a necklace. She is leaning against the monument, she has in her hand a feather which can be a sign of gentleness. This woman is tall and thin .

It is Mrs Graham who wanted Thomas Gainsborough to paint her so as to emphasize her wealth, her nobility and her beauty.

The settings, which evokes an ancient temple, illustrates the fact that Thomas Gainsborough was inspired by the Renaissance artistic movement.

Cyril, Laëticia & Mélanie