In the declining years, Gainsborough discovered a new genre, which is now conventionally called the genre of “fantastic pictures”. The word “fantastic”, however, can be successfully replaced with “sentimental”, for such a definition entirely corresponds to the action that such pictures should have on the viewer.
These village scenes with figures of charming children against the backdrop of an idyllic landscape enjoyed enormous success among spectators and customers. The beginning of the technological revolution awoke in many Englishmen nostalgic feelings.
The old good Britain was homesick for the good old days. Nostalgic literature and painting became fashionable. Thus, Gainsborough caught the aspirations of the public. I must say that the artist himself, apparently, received considerable pleasure from the creation of sentimental paintings. Thus, Sir Avdale Price, who, together with Gainsborough, traveled through the provinces, recalled later: “When he began to write a village sketch or a group of local children, I often noted how gentle and thoughtful his expression became.”
Probably, the “sentimental branch” in the work of the master was formed not without the influence of Esteban Murillo, who often wrote touching scenes depicting children from poor peasant families. Here are presented two “fantastic pictures” of Gainsborough’s brush – “Village house with pigs” and “Girl collecting firewood”.
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