I must own your calculations & comparisons betwixt our different professions to be just, provided you remember that in mine a Man may do great things… - Thomas Gainsborough

It [the painting 'Cornard_Wood', painted in 1748 ] is in some respects a little in the schoolboy stile - but I do not reflect on this without a secret gratification; for, as an early instance how strong my inclination stood for Landskip [landscape], this picture was actually painted at Sudbury in the year 1748; it was begun before I left school; - and was the means of my Father's sending me to London. It may be worth remark that though there is very little idea of composition in the picture, the touch and closeness to nature in the study of the parts and minutia are equal to any of my latter productions. In this explanation I do not wish to seem vain or ridiculous, but do not look on the Landskip as one of my riper performances. It is full forty years since it was first delivered by me to go in search of those who had taste to admire it! Within that time it has been in the hands of twenty picture dealers, and I once bought it myself during that interval for nineteen Guineas. Is not that curious? - Yours, my dear Sir, most sincerely, Thomas Gainsborough.

Whilst a Face painter is harassed to death a drapery painter sits & earns 5 or 6 hundered a year & laughs all the while.

..though I'm a rogue in talking upon Painting and love to seem to take things wrong I can be serious and honest upon any subject thoroughly pleasing to me.