A new exhibition at the Frick Collection in New York has assembled 25 portraits by the 18th-century British painter Thomas Gainsborough. The show focuses on his depictions of the era's elite, showcasing the powdered wigs, lavish fabrics, and social stature of his sitters.
The exhibition highlights a renewed market and scholarly interest in Gainsborough's portraiture, a genre sometimes overshadowed by his landscapes. It demonstrates how these works serve as a vital historical record of British aristocracy while also resonating with contemporary audiences drawn to their technical mastery and social narrative.