Thomas Gainsborough
Biography
Teaching Ideas
and Activities
pre-visit
Portrait of a Girl and Boy
The story behind the portrait of a Girl and Boy
This portrait was originally one painting which was later cut up to make two. It was painted in the 1740s, when Thomas Gainsborough was a teenager. It shows a sister and brother. We do not know who they were. The portrait of the boy had been in Gainsborough's House for about six years when the portrait of the girl was discovered. Now the two hang side by side in the gallery, reunited. They are together again, as they were painted all those years ago.
The two parts of the portrait united with artist's impression as to what might have been.
Text for use at school
NLS link: Writing a story
Suggested activities: Construct a mystery story about the girl and the boy
