Portrait of Peter Muilman, Charles Crockatt and William Keable by Gainsborough

Acquisition at auction of Thomas Gainsborough: portrait of Peter Muilman, Charles Crokatt and William Keable in a landscape, c 1750. This early group portrait shows 3 young gentlemen relaxing in a landscape. They are all East Anglian sitters, set in a recognisably Suffolk landscape. The picture was acquired jointly with Gainsborough's House, Sudbury. These two men on the left and right are thought to be Peter Muilman (standing) and Charles Crockatt. They were both sons of prosperous immigrant merchants who had settled in Essex. This painting may be a record of the union of the two families, as Charles was soon to marry Peter's sister. The man in the centre, playing the flute, is probably William Keable. He was a portrait painter and amateur musician, so he may have taught drawing and music to the two younger men. Gainsborough himself was a talented musician, and may have met Keable through a Suffolk music club. oil on canvas, 765 x 642mm, frame 940 x 820 x 90mm.