Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury.
Our local town of Sudbury is home to the renown portrait and landscape artist, Thomas Gainsborough. He is considered to be one of the most important British artists of the 18th century.
Previously known as “Gainsborough’s House,” the museum and art gallery will be known as a National Centre for Gainsborough, and house paintings and artefacts belonging and made by the artist. These paintings will adorn pure silk damask in “Rangers Green,” woven by Humphries Weaving.
The Gainsborough Gallery
Pure silk walling for the Gainsborough Gallery
As there was no historical evidence available, we had to build an authentic damask from scratch. The first important decision was colour, and a rich green was chosen to mirror the green of the landscapes Gainsborough was so famous for. To find an accurate green we looked in our textiles archive and found a selection of colours sourced from the 3rd quarter of the 18th century. The chosen shade was found at Rangers House during a restoration of curtains.
After reviewing many designs from the period, the Arkesden Damask was chosen. The fabric was custom dyed and woven at our mill, The Sudbury Silk Mills, and donated by Humphries Weaving to show our support for this prestigious local landmark.
Project Reference: 4366
