William Wollaston (1730–1797)
Thomas Gainsborough·1759
Historical Context
Gainsborough's William Wollaston of around 1759 depicts another member of the Wollaston family — or a different sitter of the same name — with the developing mastery of the male portrait that characterized his Bath transition period. The formal black coat and the direct gaze create a study in English professional masculinity, and Gainsborough's handling of the face's specific qualities demonstrates his consistent quality across the range of his portrait commissions.
Technical Analysis
Gainsborough distinguishes the younger Wollaston's portrait from his father's through a slightly more relaxed treatment suited to the sitter's youth. The handling shows the same transitional quality — between Suffolk precision and Bath fluency — that characterizes all of Gainsborough's work from this pivotal year.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice the transitional quality of the handling: between the precise Suffolk manner and the fuller Bath fluency of the following decade.
- ◆Look at the direct, honest observation of the face: Gainsborough's warm, warm characterization across social levels is consistent.
- ◆Observe the dark formal coat providing the standard male portrait framework: Gainsborough's formula concentrates expressive energy on the face.
- ◆Find the natural ease of the pose: even in a routine commission, Gainsborough avoided the stiff formality of less skilled portraitists.
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