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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ghopper1924, post: 3164315, member: 5170&quot;]OK, so here&#039;s a photo to give you a general idea. The painting depicts a girl on a donkey with a dog next to them within a Suffolk, England landscape. Yes, the bottom third of the painting is very dark, although unexpected colors and detail are revealed under a bright light. A note on the back is handwritten in script and is very difficult to read. I&#039;d say it&#039;s from the early 20th century, but that&#039;s a guess. The note is not signed. Oh, and the frame is recent:[ATTACH=full]295325[/ATTACH]</p><p>The note on the back, affixed to the mahogany board on which the work is painted, is written in script and says: </p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;Thomas Gainsborough:</p><p><br /></p><p>Born 1724 - Died 1788</p><p><br /></p><p><u>View in Suffolk</u>&nbsp; on panel size 14 1/2 x 16 1/2</p><p><br /></p><p>This painting on panel was painted in the year 1754 &amp; was presented to his nephew Dupont. This painting also passed into the hands of John Graham, Esqi of Shelwouelie (??), Glasgow, where it remained till after his death in 1886, &amp; was sold then in London. </p><p><br /></p><p>The figure on the donkey is one of Gainsborough&#039;s daughters.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]295327[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Blurry, but it wouldn&#039;t help even if it wasn&#039;t. It took me several minutes of close study to figure out the text.</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ve also got a letter written to my grandfather in Canada in 1969. A Dr. Shepherd of the National Gallery says it is unlikely to be a Gainsborough, and that it was probably done by Gainsborough Dupont (1754-1796). He goes on to say that it is authentic to the 18th century and of superior quality, and that distinguishing Dupont&#039;s work from Thomas Gainsborough&#039;s is difficult, then goes on to say that the &quot;View of Suffolk&quot; (the correct title) could be by Gainsborough, but that positive authentication should be made by a Gainsborough scholar. </p><p><br /></p><p>The painting was cleaned about 10 years ago. It was (and is) in excellent condition; darkness on the surface at that time was attributable to linseed oil, which the restorer said was consistent with an 18th century date.</p><p><br /></p><p>So there you go. Dr. Shepherd would not place a value on the work, but an &quot;unofficial&quot; one instead, based on it being by Gainsborough Dupont. He also says that there are many small early landscapes by Gainsborough that remain undiscovered.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thus my original question. Does anyone know of any Gainsborough experts? <img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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