Thomas Gainsborough The Watering Place painting

Thomas Gainsborough The Watering Place paintingThomas Gainsborough The Harvest Wagon paintingThomas Gainsborough Lord Ligonier painting
certainty about everything which made his decisions swift and easy. ‘Would you like to paint this house?’ he asked suddenly. ‘A picture of the front, another of the back on the park, another of the staircase, another of the big drawing-room? Four small oils; that is what my father wants done for a record, to keep at Brideshead. I don’t know any painters. Julia said you specialized in architecture.’ ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I should like to very much.’
‘You know it’s being pulled down? My father’s selling it. They are going to put up a block of flats here. They’re keeping the name - we can’t stop them apparently.’ ‘What a sad thing.’
‘Well, I’m sorry of course. But you think it good architecturally?’
‘One of the most beautiful houses I know.’
‘Can’t see it. I’ve always thought it rather ugly. Perhaps your pictures will make me see it differently.’
This was my first commission; I had to work against time, for the contractors were only waiting for the final signature to start their work of destruction. In spite, or perhaps, because, of that for it is my vice to spend too long on a