English portrait and landscape painter (1727-1788) considered to be one of the most important portraitists of the 18th century. ALS signed “Tho: Gainsborough,” two pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.25 x 9, September 29, 1783. Letter to "Sister Dupont," his sister Sarah, written from his home at Pall Mall in London. In full: "I promised John when he did me the honor of a Visit in Town, to allow him half a Crown a week; which with what his good Cousin Gainsbro: allow him, and Sister Gibbon, I hope will (if applied properly to his own use) render the remainder of his old age tolerably comfortable; for Villainously old he is indeed grown—I have herewith sent you 3 Guineas, with which I beg the favor of you to supply him for half a year, with 2.6 pr week, paying him on what Day of the week you judge most for his good; I should think not on the same Days that either Sister Gibbon's two shillings is paid, nor on those Days which his Cousin do for him. And that he may not know but what you advance the money out of your own pocket, I have inclosed a Letter that you may show him; which may give you a better power to manage him, if troublesome to you.
We are also pretty well, except your Son having a Cold, but we think him much better than he has been—and he joins with us all in Love to you and old Philip and all your Family…P.S. My Wife and Daughter Fischer is just return'd from Bath, where they have been upon a Visit for 3 Weeks, and left all the Family well." The second page has been professionally inlaid into a slightly larger sheet. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light foxing, light staining to the upper right corners, and the bottom of signed page trimmed off, but affecting no text.
In this letter centered on Gainsborough's family, written to his sister Sarah (the wife of Philip Dupont), he discusses the care of his brother John in his "villainously old" age. In addition to Gainsborough's own contribution to his brother's care, his other sister Mary (wife of Reverend Christopher Gibbon), and a cousin have also promised to pitch in; with their aid, John Gainsborough lived for over five more years. The painter also makes reference to Sarah's son, Gainsborough Dupont, who had become his apprentice in 1772, the only assistant the artist was known to employ during his prolific career. Following Thomas Gainsborough's death in 1788, Dupont took over his studio and continued to paint portraits and landscapes in the style of his uncle.
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