Self-Portrait of Thomas Gainsborough, RA

Thomas Gainsborough painted this self-portrait in 1787, the year before he died. He painted the left-hand part of his face almost in profile, but the right-hand side in more of a three-quarter view.

Gainsborough was a founder member of the Royal Academy, but had arguments with the organisation and with rival portrait-painter Joshua Reynolds, who was RA President. On his deathbed Gainsborough wrote an affectionate letter to Reynolds, who then spoke warmly of Gainsborough in his annual 'Discourse on Art' for 1788.

Given by Margaret Gainsborough in 1808