The portrait of Peter Collinson by Thomas Gainsborough. Photo: The Friend, dated 27 March 1936.
Eye - 27 March 2026
Eye delves into the archive, to discover a Gainsborough portrait of a Quaker naturalist
by Elinor Smallman
27th March 2026
On this day
In the Friend of 27 March 1936, news of a forgotten portrait appeared.
It begins: ‘A painting by Thomas Gainsborough… of the Quaker naturalist Peter Collinson… is a discovery of both artistic and historical importance.’
