A Rest by the Way (Open Landscape with Figures, Donkey and Horses)

Thomas Gainsborough

ca. 1780 · Black chalk, brush and brown wash · Drawings and Prints

Using brown wash defined by a pen strokes, Gainsborough constructs a landscape from a few elements--a traveler sits on a bank near his dog and loaded donkey, trees border a path, and a rider moves into the distance. The apparent simplicity belies the artist's sophisticated mastery of abstract principles, and the drawing dates to his London period--which began in 1774 after his move from Bath.

Artist

Thomas Gainsborough

Date

ca. 1780

Medium

Black chalk, brush and brown wash

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Bequest of Alexandrine Sinsheimer, 1958