Artwork
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pechell (1724–1800)
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pechell (1724–1800) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Thomas Gainsborough. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The canvas provides the foundational surface for the oil application, a common material combination for Gainsborough's portraits during this period.
Thomas Gainsborough executed Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pechell in 1767 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 76.5 cm in height and 63.8 cm in width, adhering to the standard dimensions for portraiture of the era. As a portrait genre piece, the painting demonstrates the artist's handling of oil medium to capture the likeness of the sitter.
The canvas provides the foundational surface for the oil application, a common material combination for Gainsborough's portraits during this period. The physical object remains in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving the original material composition and stylistic execution characteristic of the artist's mid-1760s output.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pechell was executed in oil on canvas by Thomas Gainsborough in 1767, as indicated by the work's date and medium. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed. No earlier owners or commission details are recorded in the available sources, so the known provenance begins with its acquisition by the Met and its creation by Gainsborough in the mid-1760s.
Context
The 1767 oil-on-canvas portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pechell, painted by Thomas Gainsborough, dates from the artist's productive Bath period of British portraiture. The work, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, measures roughly 76.5 × 63.8 cm and depicts the sitter in a formal pose that underscores his military status. It is recorded in catalogues of Gainsborough's portrait oeuvre as an example of his commissioned portraiture of military and gentry figures.
Overview
Thomas Gainsborough completed this oil portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pechell in 1767. The painting captures the military figure during Gainsborough's mature period, aligning with the Rococo movement's characteristic light palette and fluid brushwork. As a prominent British artist of the 18th century, Gainsborough was renowned for both his portraiture and landscapes. This work is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pechell, a military officer, in a striking red uniform adorned with gold buttons and lace. A dark blue sash crosses his shoulder, complementing his powdered white wig. Gainsborough positioned Pechell against a subdued, dark background, which serves to emphasize the sitter's distinguished appearance and the vibrant details of his attire, underscoring his professional identity and social standing.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Gainsborough (; 14 May 1727 (baptised) – 2 August 1788) was an English painter, draughtsman and printmaker who specialised in portrait and landscape painting.
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