Thomas Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy RETURNS back to Britain 100 years ago, when The Royal Academy’s curator scrawled “au revoir” on the back of the sale. It’s currently in The National Gallery for only 16 WEEKS.

  • After 100 years of its leaving country, Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait will come back to Britain 
  • In 1770, the large painting was unveiled by London’s Royal Academy.  
  • Since the beginning of this century it’s been on view at Huntington Art Gallery in California.










Thomas Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy, a work by Thomas Gainsborough, is being returned to Britain just 100 years after The Royal Academy’s curator wrote “au revoir” on its back when it went on sale in the USA.   

Gainsborough’s oil on canvas 1770 will be displayed at the National Gallery beginning tomorrow. It is an unprecedented loan from America.

This painting depicts a boy wearing a blue jacket with pantaloons and was first unveiled in London’s Royal Academy on 1770. 

It has been displayed at Huntington Art Gallery, California for over a century. 

Gainsborough's 1770 oil on canvas will go on display at the National Gallery from tomorrow, marking an 'unprecedented' loan from the US

Gainsborough’s 1770 oil-on-canvas painting will be on display at The National Gallery starting tomorrow. This is an unprecedented loan from the US

The portrait was owned by Buttall, as well as other artists. It was then sold to Joseph Duveen in 1921.

Charles Holmes, then the director of the National Gallery, wrote “au revoir” on the reverse of the painting in hopes that it would be returned one day.

The painting will be returned to his private space near the main entrance, taking up an entire wall. 

For just 16 weeks, it will be on display alongside similar works by Van Dyck and Gainsborough.   

Dr Gabriele Finaldi is the Director of National Gallery. He described the portrait a masterpiece in British Art’. The National Gallery’s return to London will give visitors a unique opportunity to view Gainsborough at his best.

The painting, which shows a boy in a blue jacket and pantaloons, was originally unveiled at London's Royal Academy in 1770. Pictured: The Blue Boy on show at the London gallery on January 25, 1922

Original unveiling of the painting in London was at 1770’s Royal Academy. It depicts a boy wearing a blue jacket with pantaloons. Pictured is The Blue Boy as seen in the London gallery January 25, 1922

The National Gallery's then director Charles Holmes wrote 'au revoir' on the painting's reverse, in the hope that the painting would return one day. Pictured: Thomas Gainsborough

Charles Holmes, the National Gallery director at the time, wrote on the painting’s back “au revoir”, in the hopes of seeing the painting again. Thomas Gainsborough 

He said: “Rich in historical resonances. A painting of supreme poise. elegance. The Blue Boy is, without doubt, a masterpiece British art.

Huntington president Karen R. Lawrence said that the masterpiece had made an indelible impact on art history and popular cultural, captivating the imaginations a broad range of people.

This is an unheard of loan. We took into consideration The Huntington’s iconic Blue Boy status.

“We hope this partnership with National Gallery will stimulate new conversations, appreciation, and research on both side of the Atlantic.”

The Blue Boy will exhibit in Room 46 as part of an exhibition that is free and will include a selection of paintings that show the profound impact Van Dyck had on Gainsborough’s identity and practice.  

The National Gallery will have it on display from January 25 to May 25, 2010.  

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