Art Unboxed Gainsborough And Lawrence
As a child I remember two paintings in my Grandmother’s home, at least I thought they were paintings. I know now they were most likely prints. One was called Blue Boy and the other I know now referred to as Pinkie. What I also didn’t know was that they were painted by two different artists, Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Thomas Lawrence.
While other than knowing that she must have liked the paintings I never remember talking to my Grandmother about them. I do know that my Grandmother had a good amount of artwork in her home. I also know from my Mother that my Great Grandmother could draw anything that she looked at.
Nanny Bell Browning Shelton, Virginia Ruth Hill, Phyllis Pruitt, Sis. Gloria Livingston, and Ashley Pruitt probably influenced my love of art as much as anyone else ever has. Because of them I know not only the names of Gainsborough and Lawrence, but Ross, Rockwell, Kane, Kinstler, and Neal. As I write this we’re preparing to send our son to Pre-K, and he already loves drawing and painting.
He thinks it’s because of his Daddy and Mommy, who is an artist in her own right, but we know that it goes much farther back than that. His Mom can build, craft, and design so many things, but she inherited part of her interests from others also. I know that’s true in my case, and I love seeing it in my son’s life.
It’s the passing on of a legacy, which brings me back to Gainsborough and Lawrence. Both artists began as children. Sir Thomas Lawrence at ten years old was making so much with his portraits that he was supporting his entire family. Also at ten Gainsborough had painted several paintings including a miniature self portrait.
Both men painted Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. My favorite painting of Sir Thomas Lawrence’ was of the Duke Of Wellington, hero of the Napoleonic Wars. I think my favorite Gainsborough may be the portrait of composer Carl Abel. Neither one of which I knew about at age seven, however my Grandmother had planted a seed that continues to grow to this day.
Each painter also built upon the lessons and artists which preceded them. Artist or art lover, we did not find this knowledge on our own. Everything of value we have, has been passed down to us in some way as a gift.
Art is special to me, not just because that I enjoy it, but because it gives me a connection to the past. First to loved ones both gone on and that are with us still, and to people like Gainsborough and Lawrence. Men that I have never met, but can appreciate because someone told me about them. If you’re not yet familiar with them, I’d encourage you to look them up, and to take a moment and think how those you love have passed down treasures to you.
