Thomas GAINSBOROUGH
English 1727-1788
A seapiece, a calm (A view at the mouth of the Thames)
c.1783
oil on canvas
156.2 x 190.5 cm
Felton Bequest 1948
1840-4

This is one of Gainsborough's few sea - pieces and is reminiscent in composition and style of a seventeenth century Dutch marine painting. His only other sea - pieces from this period were small scale and painted on glass. These were placed in a device called a 'show-case' and illuminated by a candle. A similar luminous effect is here achieved on canvas.