Museum number
L2001.1
Object
Framed Oil Painting: The Byam Family by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), oil on canvas, c.1762-66. On long-term loan from the Andrew Brownsword Arts Foundation.
Description
A portrait of George and Louisa Byam set in a landscape, painted initially around 1762. By April 1766, Selina Byam, their daughter, had been added by Gainsborough and at the same time, several changes were made. Louisa Byam had her dress changed from red to blue, had her hair piled higher on her head, and had a different choker around her neck. George Byam originally had a dark blue waistcoat jacket and breeches. This was changed so that he would not clash with his wife to a scarlet and gold waistcoat and brown jacket and breeches. The couple are standing looking to the left at the view in front of them with a stone gatepost or column behind them. Selina has a black mantilla over her head and wears a white muslin dress with pink sash and red shoes. George Byam has his right arm outstretched, holding a tricorn hat.
Materials
Oil
On display?
Yes

Further description

Simple name
Painting
Dimensions
framed: 10.5000cm (d) x 281.0000cm (h) x 271.0000cm (w)
regular: 238.8cm (h) x 249.0cm (w)
The Byam Family Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) Oil on canvas, 1762–66 One of the most ambitious paintings made during Gainsborough’s sixteen years in Bath, this portrait originally showed George Byam (1734–1779) and his wife, Louisa Bathurst (d.1779) strolling in a poetic landscape, demonstrating their sensibility as admirers of nature. A few years later, the Byams returned to Bath and Gainsborough added the image of their first child Selina (1760–1846), changing the colour of Louisa’s gown at the same time. George was a third-generation plantation owner in Antigua, where his grandfather had been governor. Louisa came from an affluent Gloucestershire family who also benefitted from slave labour via her grandfather’s involvement in the Royal Africa Company and the East India Company. While Louisa ended up living in Surrey, George returned to Antigua and died there aged forty-five. L2001.1 On long-term loan from the Andrew Brownsword Arts Foundation

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