  The lavender walk flanked by English roses at the back of the House  Gainsborough's statue looks out over the Market Hill in Sudbury. Markets are held every Thursday and Saturday.  The Print Workshop in the old coach house is used by artists to make etchings and other prints. There are courses for beginners to introduce print techniques to everyone.  An exhibition of jewellery in the Weaving Room.  Portrait of Harriet, Viscountess Tracy, painted in about 1763 when Gainsborough was living in Bath.  'Wooded Landscape with Peasant Reading a Tombstone', an etching made by Gainsborough in 1780. |
 Gainsborough's House
The House has a Georgian facade, built by Gainsborough's father, but retains features dating back more than 500 years. The garden's mulberry tree would already have been mature when Gainsborough was a boy. In addition to this fine heritage the House offers a lively programme of contemporary exhibitions, and has a shop selling cards, books and souvenirs. Pictures by Gainsborough The collection includes fine works from throughout Gainsborough's career. His earliest known portrait, a boy and girl in a landscape, is now in two fragments. No one knows when or why it was cut up. Another early portrait catches the likeness of the Reverend Tobias Rustat, while the artist's superb handling of drapery was seldom better than in the portrait of Lady Tracy. Gainsborough was as much a master of landscape as portraits, and the magnificent Wooded Landscape with Cattle by a Pool is among his most ambitious. He often experimented with unusual techniques in his drawings - one of several in the collection was finished with a coat of skimmed milk. Etching, too, fascinated him and the Peasant Reading a Tombstone reveals his mature style. Gainsborough's studio cabinet is one of a number of pieces of period furniture in the House. His sword-stick and pocket-watch are also on display.
Exhibitions Visitors can expect something new with each visit. Contemporary painting, photography and craft are shown in the Gallery and the old Weaving Room. In summer there is sculpture in the garden. Exhibitions of both local and national interest are included in the programme. How to find Gainsborough's House: Follow pedestrian signposts from the station or from the free car parks in the town centre. Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday, Bank Holiday Monday 2-5pm.
Closes 4pm November-Easter. Admission: Adults �2.50; OAPs �2.00; children, students �1.25. Entrance
charges may be revised. Group rates are available on request. 46 Gainsborough Street, 
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Gainsborough's House is the birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88),
one of England's very greatest painters. It is now an art gallery and museum
with more of his paintings, drawings and prints on display than anywhere else
in the world.
The Parlour ceiling dates from 1520. The horse is Gainsborough's
only known sculpture. He sometimes used models like this to
plan his compositions, arranged on a table with mirrors for water
and broccoli for trees.