Thomas Gainsborough

1727 – 1788

Thomas Gainsborough
Early Modern
Early Modern

Thomas Gainsborough

Born 1727 Died 1788 Works span 1733–1790

Early Life, Family and Training In the quiet market town of Sudbury, United Kingdom, the story of Thomas Gainsborough began on 14 May 1727. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a man who made his living as a weaver and wool merchant. While the family trade required a different kind of precision, young Thomas found himself drawn toward a different sort of creation. From a remarkably early age, he displayed an innate artistic s…

614
dated works
217
chapters
1733
first work
1790
last work
Chronological Journey

The Lifeline

Scroll through Thomas Gainsborough's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.

Drag or scroll to travel through time

Chapters — Career Periods

The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Thomas Gainsborough's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.

Thumbnails — Dated Works

Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.

Colour Band — Movement Drift

The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.