You can bid online today at the-saleroom.com/gainsborough
LEADING ARTISTS from across Britain are getting behind our £8.5 million project to create a National Centre for Thomas Gainsborough – giving art lovers and collectors a unique opportunity to bid for contemporary and post-war paintings, prints and sculpture rarely seen in the market place.
The Contemporary & Post War British Art Sale will feature around 130 lots donated from over 125 estates and studios that have pledged their support towards Gainsborough’s House.
The works represent some of Britain’s greatest and most inspiring artists including Edward Bawden, Francis Davison, Anthony Eyton, Antony Gormley, Maggi Hambling, Clive Head, John Hoyland, David Inshaw, Allen Jones, Sarah Lucas, Margaret Mellis, Julian Opie and William Pye. Everyone is welcome to view selected works for free from 14 – 19 October.
Maggi Hambling CBE, a Patron of Gainsborough’s House who spear-headed the event along with art critic Andrew Lambirth said: “Since galleries couldn’t exist without artists, it’s fitting that artists have responded so wholeheartedly to supporting a new National Centre for Thomas Gainsborough, one of England’s greatest.”
In 2016, we were delighted to learn that the Heritage Lottery Fund had earmarked £4.73 million for the renovation and redisplay of the historic house and the construction of a new, landmark three-storey structure with four new galleries – a showcase Gainsborough gallery, a landscape studio with panoramic views over Sudbury, a community gallery and a major exhibition gallery/performance space.
As part of a far-reaching fundraising campaign to secure over £3 million in match-funding still needed to safeguard the project, we hope this prestigious event will help close the gap on our funding targets.
Mark Bills, Director of Gainsborough’s House, said: “Here is a unique opportunity to bid for contemporary and post-war paintings, prints and sculpture rarely seen in the market place and in so doing be part of this exciting and ambitious project.”
The Contemporary & Post War British Art Sale takes place at The Assembly Rooms, Town Hall, Sudbury CO10 1TL on Friday 20 October from 6.30pm – tickets £25 (including refreshments and catalogue) available from T: 01787 372958 or E: jackieb@gainsborough.org
You can bid online from 1 October at the-saleroom.com/gainsborough
Viewing of key works from 14 – 19 October
Free entry all week and late night opening on Thursday 19 October until 8pm
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was born in Sudbury and baptised at the Independent Meeting-House in Friars Street on 14 May 1727, the fifth son and ninth child of John and Mary Gainsborough. In 1958, Gainsborough’s House Society was formed to purchase the house and establish it as a centre for Thomas Gainsborough. The Museum opened to the public in 1961 and has remained open for over 50 years. The beautiful historic garden at the heart of Gainsborough’s House is maintained by a devoted body of volunteers, who garden exclusively with plants that were available in Gainsborough’s lifetime.
Gainsborough’s House Society , Charity No. 1170048 and Company Limited by Guarantee No. 10413978