Thomas Gainsborough's (1727-1788) 'The Blue Boy' (1770)

Canvas: Used - includes the blue boy on the front side of the portrait and a story page from Thomas Gainsborough on the back side of the portrait. No frame included. Painting is flat to the touch - no texture.
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Story: In the winter of 1922, the Gainsborough’s ‘The Blue Boy’ canvas, the young subject is dressed in a striking blue costume; he is bright-eyed yet serious, shy yet direct. The identity of the boy in blue is uncertain; more importantly, he is a stand-in for all boys and the idea of childhood - he has become one of Britain’s most beloved sons. ‘The Blue Boy’ represents the best of 18th-century British art. It is Gainsborough’s eloquent response to the legacy of Van Dyck and grand manner portraiture. It is a proud demonstration by Gainsborough of what painting can achieve. The popularity and influence of the painting have made it an icon, which has been quoted by contemporary artists and referenced in Hollywood films.