Gainsborough and the Theatre

Published: 17 July 2018
Reporter: Sandra Giorgetti

Mrs Siddons painted by Thomas Gainsborough Credit: © The National Gallery, London
True but every goose can... A caricature of Marie-Auguste Vestris by Nathaniel Dance-Holland Credit: © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Bath's Holburne Museum is bringing together a collection of items united by their connection to theatre of the 1760s-80s.

Showing over the winter, Gainsborough and the Theatre boasts 15 oil portraits by the celebrated 18th century landscape painter and portraitist Thomas Gainsborough alongside some 37 objects.

The artist lived in both London and Bath painting leading actors of the day including James Quin, David Garrick and Sarah Siddons, as well as others associated with the growing theatre scene such as the Haymarket Theatre’s manager, George Colman.

Such figures used their portraits to promote themselves both socially and professionally, whilst for Gainsborough it was an opportunity to advertise his work and skill with colour.

Amongst the objects being shown are works on paper and theatre ephemera from public and private collections.

Amina Wright, Senior Curator at the Holburne said, “we are delighted to announce the latest in our series of loan exhibitions at the Holburne on eighteenth-century British art. This year’s Gainsborough offering looks at the artist’s work with actors, theatre managers, designers, musicians and dancers, which extended from Bath to London as theatre and the performing arts flourished.

"Gainsborough and the Theatre presents some of the artist’s most intimate and immediate portraits of his many creative friends and celebrity colleagues, as well as taking us behind the scenes to explore the growth of the theatre and portrait business in Bath and the West End.”

Hugh Belsey and Dr Susan Sloman are the guest curators for Gainsborough and the Theatre for which the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, the Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Barber Institute have all provided works on loan.

Gainsborough and the Theatre can be seen at the Holburne Museum Great Pulteney Street Bath from 5 October to 20 January.

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