Sir Joshua Reynolds was one of the greatest artists of the English Restoration. He was a close friend of Gainsborough and a rival of Reynolds. The two men were very competitive, and Gainsborough often remarked about Reynolds' works in their own journals. In fact, Gainsborough was regarded as Reynolds's greatest rival. This is why he is often referred to as the father of English art. But, what was the secret behind his success?

After learning his craft, Gainsborough moved to London and began exhibiting his paintings at the Royal Academy. In 1777, King George III took a liking to his paintings and commissioned him to paint portraits of the royal family. Although he never achieved the status of royal painter, he was a personal favourite of the king. He went on to paint landscapes and still lifes and became renowned for his simplicity and skill.

Later, he concentrated on landscapes and became more experimental with composition. Despite this, he was the dominant British portraitist during the second half of the eighteenth century. His nephew, Gainsborough Dupont, worked with him in the studio. He died on 2 August 1788 of cancer. His work is found in many major museum collections in the United Kingdom. The artist had a distinguished career. He lived well in his later years, and it is worth noting that his paintings were widely admired.