THE COTTAGE GIRL WITH THE DOG AND PITCHER

This is probably the best loved of Gainsborough’s “fancy pictures” which I decided to paint because of its wistful charm. I noticed the girl’s weary sad disillusioned expression on her face and the dog in her arms (perhaps her only comfort and friend). The cottage girl barefoot and carrying the pitcher drew me to this painting. One would feel like putting your arms around her, she looks so destitute. I tried to capture this picture as near as I could.

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by THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH  1727-1788

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Gainsborough is probably the best loved of all the British portrait painters and he left us with a glittering record of 18th century society. After learning his trade in London he set up as a portrait artist in his native country but all his life he preferred landscapes to portraiture. His own remarkable achievements in this field including his “fancy pictures” were largely unrecognised at the time of his death.