Gainsborough and Reynolds

When two ambitious young Englishmen arrive in the metropolis, their rivalry changes the course of Western ArtThomas Gainsborough (1727-88) and Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) were viewed as bitter rivals throughout their lifetimes and beyond. Despite similar upbringings in English counties far from the capital, they had completely different characters, opposing attitudes to life and art, and distinct career paths. Even when neighbours in London they were rarely seen in the same room at the same time, to the bewilderment of mutual friends and professional colleagues. Their common ground was the Royal Academy of Arts, of which Reynolds was founding president, with its annual showcase of contemporary art as the crucible of their shared competitiveness and personal animosity. For the first time, three hundred years since they were born and with the Gainsborough tercentenary imminent, Jacqueline Riding explores the lives, loves and loathing of these two formidable artists side-by-side and in the round: venturing behind the closed doors of home and studio, alongside the hallowed halls of the Royal Academy and the civic and public realms. Structured around significant episodes and themes, she paints a vibrant double portrait that is fresh, captivating and surprising.