- Gainsborough (1727-1788), Thomas
- Peasants Going to Market
- c.1770-74
- Drawing
- Black and white chalks with grey and brown washes, extensively heightened with white chalk and bodycolour on prepared brown paper
- 41.4x53.8 cm
- Inv. Nr. 1993.001
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This highly experimental work, which combines chalk, gouache and watercolour on laid brown paper, is the most elaborate of all the drawings by Gainsborough in the Gainsborough’s House collection. It was never sold by the artist but remained in his studio until his death, where it perhaps played a didactic role for subsequent explorations of the subject.
In 1831 it was sold at Christie’s, where it was described as “spiritedly touched” in the sale catalogue. It was later purchased by the art historian Kenneth Clark, and has since been regarded as one of Gainsborough’s most significant works on paper.
The composition appears to derive from Rembrandt’s 1651 etching The Flight Into Egypt, with the addition of an extended family of children on a second donkey. By substituting the Holy Family for lowly country folk, Gainsborough imbues his humble subject matter with the moral weight of biblical narrative.
The high contrast and richly layered cross-hatched lines in Rembrandt’s print may also have been an inspiration to Gainsborough who appears to have exploited the deep laid lines of the paper to achieve a similar visual effect with the thick application of chalk.
It is one of several works by Gainsborough on the theme of a peasant family travelling through the landscape to market. The motif formed the focus of major canvases from the late 1760s and early 1770s. - Purchased through the generous co-operation of Timothy Clode Esq with grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, an anonymous donation made through the National Art Collections Fund and the Gainsborough’s House Society Development Trust, the MGC/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the National Art Collections Fund, January 1993
