Oil paint on canvas
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<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/thomas-gainsborough-199" aria-label="More by Thomas Gainsborough" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Thomas Gainsborough</a>
An Old Horse
Presented by the family of Richard J. Lane 1896
agriculture, gardening & fishing
animals: mammals
architecture
fence
harness
horse
objects
townscapes / man-made features
tree
<p>This lively and loosely sketched picture of an old horse dates most likely from the mid 1750s, relatively early in Gainsborough's career when he was still living in his native Suffolk. Once in the possession of Gainsborough's family, the picture was described in 1896 as 'an aged cart-horse, much emaciated and just taken from work'. Sketched from life, it demonstrates Gainsborough's enjoyment in copying directly from nature, which he did throughout his life either for sheer pleasure or as preparatory study for elements in his finished oils.</p><p><em>Gallery label, November 1996</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
21 July 1989 – 31 March 2025
2025-03-31
21 July 1989 – 31 March 2025
2025-03-31
1989-07-21
Gainsborough’s House (Sudbury, UK)
1989-07-21
Long loan to Gainsborough's House
Loan-out
An Old Horse
support: 552 × 648 mm
frame: 708 × 818 × 66 mm
Presented by the family of Richard J. Lane 1896
<p>This lively and loosely sketched picture of an old horse dates most likely from the mid 1750s, relatively early in Gainsborough's career when he was still living in his native Suffolk. <br/>Once in the possession of Gainsborough's family, the picture was described in 1896 as 'an aged cart-horse, much emaciated and just taken from work'. Sketched from life, it demonstrates Gainsborough's enjoyment in copying directly from nature, which he did throughout his life either for sheer pleasure or as preparatory study for elements in his finished oils.</p>
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1996-11-18T00:00:00
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agriculture, gardening & fishing animals: mammals architecture fence harness horse objects townscapes / man-made features tree