By Frederick Shum, F.S.A. 



61 



has ever acquired such a monoply of distinguished and aristocratic 

 visitors. 



Through the introduction of Thicknesse, Gainsborough soon ob- 

 tained commissions,, and the comparatively unknown Suffolk painter 

 at once became famous ; his studio was the centre of attraction ; 

 there, might be seen dukes, generals, philosophers, and statesmen* 

 He had more than he could do, and rapidly advanced his prices from 

 five guineas to a hundred guineas. 



In an account of Gainsborough, recently published in the series 

 of " Small Books on the Great Artists," written by Mr. Brock- 

 Arnold in an appreciative spirit, with great judgment and discrimi- 

 nation, it is stated that on his arrival in Bath he rented a house in 

 the Circus. This, however, is incorrect ; his first residence was in 

 the centre of the city, afterwards he lived in Ainslie's Belvedere, 

 where he had a studio commanding a beautiful view of Hampton 

 Bocks, and subsequently he occupied a house in the Circus, not 

 many doors from the Earl of Chatham ; here his rooms were crowded 

 with unsold landscapes, which the fashionable visitors at Bath could 

 not appreciate. Numerous are the anecdotes recorded of Gains- 

 borough in Bath — of the rebuffs he administered to the vain and 

 wealthy people who came to him for their portraits, and desired to 

 be decked out in all their finery ; of his quarrels with the irascible 

 Governor of Landguard Fort, of his friendship and association with 

 the actors and musical celebrities, of his passion for music, and of 

 his versatile genius in playing all sorts of musical instruments. 

 Bath at that time was noted for its love of music, and its patronage 

 of the stage. The first musicians of the day were constantly there, 

 and as Gainsborough loved music no less'passionately than paintings 

 he invited them to his house, painted their portraits, and treated 

 them with the most genial hospitality. Among them was Fischer, 

 the hautboy player, who married his daughter, and whose portrait 

 is in Hampton Court ; Mrs. Siddons, whose portrait is now in the 

 National Gallery ; Abel, Miss Linley, Quin, and Garrick, who 

 again and again refused to sit until one morning Mr. Wiltshire 

 beguiled him into his house at Bath, and there held guard over him 

 while Gainsborough commenced a sketch for that noble picture, 



