Waddesdon Manor, the grand Rothschild residence in Buckinghamshire, have released images of the conservation of Thomas Gainsborough’s the Pink Boy. The sensitive cleaning of the painting has revealed the blisteringly beautiful pink silk drapery, blue skies and rich earthy greens which have been obscured by old discoloured varnish. The work was undertaken by conservator Rica Jones, who has written widely on the techniques and materials employed by Gainsborough.
Visitors to Waddesdon Manor will be able to see a special display on this recent conservation work which runs from 25 May until 30 October 2022.
Regular auction watchers might remember this similar Van-Dyke costumed portrait sold from the Taubman Collection at Sotheby’s New York in 2016.
