Moving in 1774 to live in London, Gainsborough set out to immediately gain popularity in the capital. To achieve the desired, it was required to prove himself as the best portraitist of our time. And therefore the portraits created by the master in the middle of the 1770s are distinguished by their splendor and splendor.
Among the paintings that were present at this exhibition are “Portrait of Mrs. Graham”, “Portrait of the composer Abel” – probably the most successful male portrait of Gainsborough, and also the work “Sea Resort”. “Portrait of Mrs. Graham”, without any doubt, is written by the artist under the influence of the manner respected by him Van Dyck – this is most evident in the luxurious dress of the heroine. A young woman is depicted against a background of a generalized landscape.
Mary Graham was the second daughter of the ninth count of Cathcart. In 1774, she married Thomas Graham, who later received the title of Lord Lyndoch. This marriage was very successful, but not too long. In 1792, Mary died. Her husband was painfully worried about this loss. On his orders, Mary’s portrait, written by Gainsborough, was taken to the closet. Thomas Graham said that if he at least glances at this picture, his heart will burst with grief. “Portrait of Mrs. Graham” spent in the closet for about half a century. Once again they were brought to the light of God only after the death of Lord Lyndoch, who died in 1843, when he was 95 years old.
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