Gainsborough probably painted this lively oil sketch when he was living in Ipswich. The sitter, John Kirby, was one of his closest friends. He was a painter, author and printmaker and later became President of the Society of Artists in London.
Physical description
Label for New Paintings Galleries, November 2003
This lively oil sketch was probably painted in the mid-1750s, while the artist was living in Ipswich. John Kirby (1716-94) was one of Gainsborough's closest friends. He was a painter, author and print-maker, who became president of the Society of Artists and clerk of the works at Kew Palace.
Place of Origin
Great Britain, United Kingdom (painted)
Date
ca. 1754-ca. 1756 (painted)
Artist/maker
Thomas Gainsborough, born 1727 - died 1788 (artist)
Materials and Techniques
oil on canvas
Dimensions
Height: 41.9 cm estimate, Width: 29.2 cm estimate, Height: 63.5 cm frame dimensions, Width: 50 cm frame dimensions, Depth: 6 cm frame dimensions
Object history note
Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce, 1869.
Note from the Catalogue of the Dyce Collection (1874), p.3 : "Formerly in the possession of Mrs Trimmer, Kirby's daughter".
Descriptive line
Oil painting, 'Joshua Kirby', Thomas Gainsborough, ca. 1754-ca. 1756
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Hayes, John. Thomas Gainsborough. exh.cat. London: Tate Gallery, 1980, p. 82-83, cat. no. 65
The following is the full text of the entry:
"65 Joshua Kirby (1716-74)
Canvas, 41.9 x 29.2 (16½ x 11½)
About 1757-8
Lit: Waterhouse, No. 418
Victoria and Albert Museum
Joshua Kirby, son of the author of The Suffolk Traveller, a house and coach painter who edited Brook Taylor's treatise on perspective, was, though quite the opposite in character - pious and earnest- one of Gainsborough's closest friends, and is supposed to have been responsible for bringing him before the notice of George III, with whom he was intimate. Gainsborough particularly requested that he should be buried near his friend's grave in Kew churchyard. The head of Gainsborough's purposeful friend is given added strength through the force of lighting, and the coat is left unfinished as in his own self-portrait (Cat.no.59). The picture was probably a gift, and remained in the family until the mid-nineteenth century."
Labels and date
Label for New Paintings Galleries, November 2003 :
This lively oil sketch was probably painted in the mid-1750s, while the artist was living in Ipswich. John Kirby (1716-94) was one of Gainsborough's closest friends. He was a painter, author and print-maker, who became president of the Society of Artists and clerk of the works at Kew Palace.
Materials
Oil paint; Canvas
Techniques
Oil painting
Subjects depicted
Kirby, John Joshua
Categories
Portraits; Paintings
Collection code
PDP
