England, 18th century / 1769
Portrait of George Pitt, First Baron Rivers
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Portrait of George Pitt, First Baron Rivers as painting (England, 18th century · 1769).
Gainsborough was famous for his portraits, but he especially loved painting landscapes.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Thomas Gainsborough (British, 1727–1788).
The museum's collection notes: Although George Pitt reputedly led a life of debauchery and was a cruel husband, Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait endows him with an aura of dignity and refinement. This work was painted between Pitt’s appointments as ambassador to Turin, Italy, and Madrid, Spain, but he is very much the English gentleman at home on his country estate. Gainsborough balances the deep scarlet and green facing of Pitt’s military uniform with the cool, woodland landscape painted with wide, liquid brushstrokes of mauves, grays, and silvers.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtPortrait of George Pitt, First Baron RiversOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.