Thomas
Gainsborough

Suggested Reading

The list below is an up-to-date list of books and articles about all aspects of Gainsborough's life and work. It is not a comprehensive biographical list, many important articles are mentioned in the bibliographies and footnotes and the reader is directed towards John Hayes , The Drawings of Thomas Gainsborough [2 vols], London 1970 and John Hayes, The Landscape Paintings of Thomas Gainsborough [2 vols], London 1982 for more comprehensive listings.
Much new research is listed in Gainsborough's House Review which is published each September.

1. W. T. Whitley, Thomas Gainsborough, London 1915
   This remains the most thorough biography of the artist.
    
   
2. E. K. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, London 1958 [2nd ed. 1966]
   Although the landscape paintings have been recatalogued, this book remains the most important catalogue of the artist's portraits.
    
   
3. John Hayes, The Drawings of Thomas Gainsborough, [2 vols], London 1970
   A well illustrated catalogue of Gainsborough's drawings.  An addenda was published by John Hayes, 'Gainsborough's Drawings: A Supplement to the Catalogue Raisonée', in Master Drawings, XXI no 4, 1983, pp. 367-91.
    
   
4. John Hayes, Gainsborough as Printmaker, London 1971
   A fully illustrated catalogue of Gainsborough's work as an etcher and aquatinter.
    
   
5. John Hayes, Gainsborough, London 1975
   A fully illustrated book about the artist with an essay placing him in context.
    
   
6. John Hayes, Gainsborough, catalogue of an exhibition at the Tate Gallery, London 1980/81
   A fully illustrated catalogue with a lively biography of the artist.
    
   
7. John Hayes, The Landscape Paintings of Thomas Gainsborough, [2 vols], London 1982
   A full catalogue which traces the development of Gainsborough's landscape style and place it in context.
    
   
8. Hugh Belsey, Gainsborough's Family, catalogue of an exhibition of Gainsborough's House, Sudbury 1988.
   A study of the artist's family including family trees. Click here for more information.
    
   
9. Malcolm Cormack, The Paintings of Thomas Gainsborough, Cambridge 1991
   An introductory essay about the artist's work with 75 colour plates illustrating the scope of his paintings and drawings.
    
   
10. Michael Rosenthal, The Art of Thomas Gainsborough, Yale University Press 1999.
    A new study which places Gainsborough in the context of the Royal Academy and pays particular attention to the influences that formed his style.
     
    
11. Amal Asfour and Paul Williamson, Gainsborough's Vision, Liverpool University Pres 1999.
    Much new information emphasising the influence of the artist's non-conformist upbringing and suggesting new sources for his work.
     
    
12. John Hayes [ed.] The Letters of Thomas Gainsborough, New Haven and London 2001.
     A new edition of all Gainsborough's known letters and other writings.
     
    
13. Gainsborough's House Review
    An annual booklet which outlines the activities of the Society, lists new acquisitions and publishes recent research about the artist and his associates.  Click here for more information.
    

Gainsborough's House
46 Gainsborough Street ·   Sudbury ·   Suffolk ·   CO10 2EU
UK
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email: mail@gainsborough.org