Gainsborough's House, the museum and gallery at the birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough

Exhibition Gallery
The large space on the ground floor, with its lower bow section looking out on to the garden, is used for temporary exhibitions.  There are usually around four exhibitions a year, which relate to Gainsborough and his era, the museum's permanent collection and history, or to printmaking. 

Entrance Hall
The room gives a brief history of the Gainsborough family and includes portraits of the artist's cousins, wife and descendants. Some objects belonging to Gainsborough, such as his swordstick, are shown in the corner display cupboard.  The artist's large mahogany studio cabinet was used for mixing his paints and for storing materials and paper.

Parlour
The paintings in this gallery are from his early years in London and Suffolk. From the outset of his career, Gainsborough was painting both portraits and landscapes. The young artist was sent to London to study in 1740 where he associated with the artistic community around the St Martin's Lane Academy, which included William Hogarth (1697 - 1762) and Francis Hayman (1708 - 1776). Gainsborough returned to Suffolk in 1749, painting local sitters and landscapes based on the surrounding countryside.  The corner alcove has a ceiling painting, probably from the 17th century. 

Aubrey Herbert Room 
In 1759, Gainsborough made a decisive move to the spa town of Bath, where he remained until 1774. He was the leading artist working there, painting fashionable society portraits and grand manner landscapes.  While at Bath, he was able to see important Old Master collections, largely for the first time. Gainsborough made copies of works by artists such as Van Dyck and Rubens, including the 'Descent from the Cross'.

Arthur Essex Room
The paintings on display are from Gainsborough's late career. He moved to London in 1774, perhaps in response to the establishment of the Royal Academy in 1768, of which he was a founder member.  The portraits of these years became more fanciful and graceful. He also developed new, more dramatic landscape subjects, particularly after his tour of the Lake District in 1783, while the 'Cottage Door' subject became a recurrent theme. 

Study Gallery
This room, once the Weaving Room of the artist's father or of later tenants, now stores items in the collection not currently on display. It includes drawings by Gainsborough and his contemporaries, prints, rare books, letters and manuscripts, and a collection of decorative objects with Gainsborough imagery. Visitors can see some of this material in the display cabinets or in the pull - out drawers or request to view other works by appointment. An exposed panel in the lobby outside the room reveals the wattle and daub construction of the House.

Upper Bow Room
The paintings on display are mostly by Gainsborough Dupont (1754 - 1797), Gainsborough's nephew and studio assistant. His formal apprentice papers are in the display case. While not without talent, Dupont lacked the flair of his master and was imitative of Gainsborough's style and subject - matter.  ­Many of Dupont's paintings and drawings were later mistakenly sold as Gainsboroughs. 

Library 
The collection of books, photographs and archive material is available to all by appointment.