Portrait of a Boy (Fragment of 'Portrait of a Boy and Girl')

This portrait is the right-hand side of a painting of a girl and boy cut in two (for the other half, see Inv. Nr. 1991.011). It is unclear why, or when, this occurred. The ambitious size is unusual for a portrait by Gainsborough at this early stage in his career; his outdoor group portraits, or ‘conversation pieces’ are typically much smaller. There is a striking similarity between Gainsborough’s young sitters and The Mackinen Children, painted by William Hogarth in 1747 and now in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.

Purchased with grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Victoria and Albert Museum (Purchase Grant Fund) and Gainsborough's House Society Development Trust.