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18th-century Britain

Works made in Britain in the 18th century.

42 works · hang 5442 ·

The rooms are imagined; every work on their walls is real.

Walk this roomRehang this room

First room, north wall

  1. A work made of pen and black ink, over traces of graphite, on tan wove paper, laid down on cream wove paper.
    Athena and the WindsJohn Flaxman, n.d.Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Shown from the waist up, a young, pale-skinned woman with her gray hair piled high atop her head is lit starkly against a dark background in this vertical portrait painting. The woman’s shoulders are angled to our left. Her face is square to us, but she looks off to our right from the corners of her eyes, which are gray rimmed with golden brown around the pupils. She has a thin face, smooth cheeks, a bow-shaped pink mouth, and a narrow chin. Her hair is mostly swept up high under a bank of pearl-white feathers and some sparkling ornaments. A few ringlets hang down the back of her neck. The bodice of her white dress scoops low across her chest and sits just above her sloping shoulders. The dress is adorned with pearls on the sleeves and around the neckline, and the fabric shimmers from silvery white to pale gold. The background is earth-brown around her face and deepens to almost black in the corners.
    Mrs. Paul Cobb MethuenThomas Gainsborough, c. 1776/1777Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. A work made of engraving in black ink with opaque and translucent watercolor on cream laid paper.
    August, from Twelve Months of FlowersHenry Fletcher, n.d.Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

First room, south wall

  1. Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby, by Thomas Lawrence, 1790
    Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of DerbyThomas Lawrence, 1790Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The Dutton Family in the Drawing Room of Sherborne Park, Gloucestershire, by Johann Zoffany, c. 1772
    The Dutton Family in the Drawing Room of Sherborne Park, GloucestershireJohann Zoffany, c. 1772Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. The image depicts a portrait of an individual with the upper half of their body visible. The person is facing forward with their head slightly turned to the side, looking directly at the viewer. They have a fair complexion, with distinct facial features, including a rounded face and closed lips. The hair is styled in an 18th-century manner, with curls around the ears. They are wearing a dark coat with red lapels and brass buttons, over a white shirt with ruffled details. There are no visible jewelry or objects in their hands. The background is a textured, earth-toned surface.
    William PittGainsborough Dupont, 1787/1796Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Second room, south wall

  1. This is a drawing showing a pig performing a trick for an audience. It depicts a group of people watching the pig interacting with cards on the floor. The detailed image shows the varied facial expressions of the audience members. There is text at the top of the image suggesting the pig has a unique ability, possibly related to languages. The drawing captures a moment of entertainment in a satirical style, with lines and cross-hatching used to emphasize the humor.
    The Wonderful PigThomas Rowlandson, 1785Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Small Landscape, ca. 1750-1800
    Small LandscapeUnrecorded British maker, ca. 1750-1800Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. This is a drawing of a bird perched on a branch. The bird is detailed and identified as "Turtur Risorius." It rests on a green textured branch against a plain background. The bird has a black ring around its neck, soft brown plumage with intricate feather patterns, and light pink legs. Its eye is prominent and outlined within its head design. The branch is minimalist with small buds and thin twigs.
    Turtur RisoriusWilliam Home LizarsCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. A work made of etching on ivory laid paper.
    Death on a Pale HorseJoseph Haynes, 1784, after the drawing of 1775Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Second room, north wall

  1. A work made of engraving in black ink with opaque and translucent watercolor on cream laid paper.
    July, from Twelve Months of FlowersHenry Fletcher, n.d.Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A work made of pen and black ink and brush and black ink wash, with touches of pen and brown ink, on ivory laid paper.
    Hannah Presenting Samuel to EliJohn Flaxman, c. 1783Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Cottage Children (The Wood Gatherers), by Thomas Gainsborough, 1787
    Cottage Children (The Wood Gatherers)Thomas Gainsborough, 1787Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Third room, north wall

  1. The image shows a landscape scene from an elevated viewpoint. There are large columns of a classical ruin and a leafy tree on the left. On the right, there is a spreading tree with intricate leaves. In the background, there is a pastoral landscape with figures and animals. A shepherd and a cow are guiding a flock of sheep, and buildings can be seen in the distance. The horizon divides the image into sky and earth. The brushstrokes are detailed, capturing textures effectively. The color palette consists of earthy tones with touches of brighter colors on the figures' clothing.
    Heroic Landscape with Fisherman, Cows, and HorsemenJohn Baptist Jackson, 1744Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Captain George K. H. Coussmaker (1759–1801), by Joshua Reynolds, 1782
    Captain George K. H. Coussmaker (1759–1801)Joshua Reynolds, 1782Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Portrait of Mary Anne Jolliffe, by Gainsborough Dupont, after 1788
    Portrait of Mary Anne JolliffeGainsborough Dupont, after 1788Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art