Six Studies of a Cat
ca. 1763 - ca. 1769
Medium
black and white chalks, on brown paper,
Dimensions
459; 332
About this artwork
height 332 mm x width 459 mm
Art Historical Context
Thomas Gainsborough’s *Six Studies of a Cat*, created between about 1763 and 1769, offers a charming glimpse into the artist’s private sketchbook. Best known for his elegant portraits and luminous landscapes, Gainsborough frequently turned to drawing as a way to explore movement and character. Here, six quick poses of a single cat—curled, stretching, and alert—are captured with black and white chalk on warm brown paper, a technique that allowed him to model form rapidly through light and shadow. The medium itself is significant. Working on toned paper let Gainsborough build both highlights an...
About the Artist
Thomas Gainsborough · 1727–1788
Thomas Gainsborough was born on 14 May 1727 in Sudbury, Suffolk, the youngest of nine children to wool dealer John Gainsborough and his wife Mary. Demonstrating prodigious talent from childhood, he sketched landscapes in the local woods and fields, fostering his lifelong passion for the genre. At age thirteen, he moved to London, where he trained under the French engraver and illustrator Hubert-Fr...