Philip Thicknesse, one of the most eccentric figures of the eighteenth century (he directed that after his death his handshould be chopped off and sent to his son as a reminder of the filial duties the son had scanted) was a close friend andshrewd observer of the painter whom he claimed to have discovered.William Jackson, a distinguished musician and connoisseur, also claimed to have been the first to see Gainsborough'stalent, but after falling out with the painter over his reckless lifestyle, wrote an affectionate but clear eyed memoir.

"The London publishing house Pallas Athene has come up with the very welcome and worthwhile project of assembling English translations of early biographies of artists in an easily accessible publication." - Historians of Netherlands Art Reviews

• Introduction byANTHONY MOULDp. 7A Sketch of the Life and Paintings ofThomas GainsboroughPHILIP THICKNESSEp. 29Character of GainsboroughWILLIAM JACKSONp. 85Character of Gainsborough:his excellencies and defectsSIR JOSHUA REYNOLDSp. 109List of illustrationsp. 142