Letter: to James Unwin from Thomas Gainsborough, 15th September 1763

Letter to James Unwin, 15 September 1763 by Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788) 1988.3 Acquired in 1988 through the National Heritage Memorial Fund Thomas Gainsborough wrote this letter about four years after he came to Bath. As a family friend and the artist’s attorney and banker, James Unwin (1717–1776) was one of his most regular correspondents. Gainsborough confides to Unwin about his recent long illness, which he believed to have been brought on by overwork. He owed his recovery to Dr Rice Charleton, whose portrait hangs in the Brownsword Gallery upstairs. Gainsborough also apologises for being so slow in painting a portrait of Unwin’s new wife Frances (shown right). He eventually finished it in 1771. My Dear Friend This is the first time I have been able to hold a pen since I wrote to you before I have had a most terrible attack of a Nervous fever so that for whole nights together I have thought it impossible that I could last til the Morning. But Thank God I am greatly recover’d by the great care & tenderness of Doctor Charlton Who apply’d the Bark & Saline Draughts so properly & cautiously that they have done wonders, ‘tho. I must not forget a prescription of My Sisters (who you know is a Woman of Corage) of six Glasses of good, old Port which she made me swallow one Evening when I should have thought two or 3 must have knock me off the Stage. The truth is, I have apply’d a little too close for these last 5 years, That both my Doctors & Friends really think. I have got a Horse which I had of my good Friend Sir William St. Quintin not handsom but perfectly sure footed & steady upon the Road, and what I purpose is to be as indolent as possible in every thing but Observing the exact quantity of food & Exercise best for me, and to stick to the 6 glasses of Port at Night. By this means I shall Weather the Point, and live to see you at Bath & Mrs. Unwin who we should rejoyce to hear is well. But all this time what is to be said about the Picture! I think I’ll defer that til my Next, for my Head throbs a little with writing So my Dear Friend Adieu for the present and believe me yours most sincerely and Affectionately Tho Gainsborough