The frontispiece is signed as drawn by Dupont; the title-plate vignette and plate [2] (facing p.100), as drawn by A.H. Burkitt; plate [1] (facing p.2) is unsigned by a draughtsman. All are signed as engraved by Geo. C. Finden.
The printer is named on the title-page verso and in the colophon: 'Fulcher, Printer, Sudbury.'
References
H. Belsey, Gainsborough: a country life (2002); M. Postle, Thomas Gainsborough (2002); M. Rosenthal and M. Myrone, Gainsborough [exhibition catalogue] (2002); T. Gainsborough, The letters of Thomas Gainsborough, ed. J. Hayes (2001); A. Asfour and P. Williamson, Gainsborough's vision (1999).
Summary Note
The 'Contents' list: I. Birthplace And Parentage; II. Gainsborough's Brothers; III. Early Years; IV. Ipswich; V. Bath; VI. London; VII. Reynolds's Tribute; List Of Gainsborough's Works; Addenda. Pictures Exhibited At The B.I. In 1856, &c.; Appendix. Letter From Thicknesse To Mrs. Gibbon.
The plates are captioned and show: (frontis.) 'Gainsborough's fisrt attempt at Portrait Painting'; (t.pl. vignette) 'Kew Church, On the South side of which Gainsborough was buried Augt. 9th. 1788'; [1] (facing p.2) 'Gainsborough's Birth-place, Sudbury, 1727'; [2] (facing p.100) 'Schomberg House, where Gainsborough died, Aug. 2. 1788'.
The book went into a second edition in the same year; and stimulated a renewal of interest in Gainsborough's work.
Provenance
A front endpaper is inscribed in pencil, 'Rec'd from the Council 19 Augt. 1856 HW.P.'
Binding Note
19th-century green cloth-covered boards, upper and lower covers decorated in-blind; spine lettered 'Life Of Gainsborough - Fulcher.'