Thomas Gainsborough (christened 14 May 1727 – 2 August 1788)
was an English portrait and landscape painter. He was born the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver in Suffolk, and, in 1740, left home to study art in London with Hubert Gravelot, Francis Hayman, and William Hogarth. In 1769, he became a founding member of the Royal Academy. Gainsborough moved to London in 1774, and painted portraits of the King and Queen. . He painted quickly and his later pictures are characterised by a light palette and easy strokes. H Cecil Kellaway portrayed Gainsborough in the 1945 film Kitty.