Portrait of Margaret Gainsborough

This portrait may have been painted to celebrate the 50th birthday of Thomas Gainsborough’s wife, Margaret. He portrayed her on various occasions throughout their marriage and her direct gaze — an unusual feature in portraits at the time — reveals the intimate bond between painter and sitter. This portrait might have equally been made to advertise Gainsborough’s talents as a portrait painter. Potential clients coming to his studio (and home) could easily compare the portrait with its model.