William Vaughan puts Gainsborough's work into the context of contemporaneous social and political developments in Britain, and in particular the celebration of original genius in a time of burgeoning entrepreneurial commercialism. He also discusses thoroughly Gainsborough's life and work - his childhood in Suffolk; his 'apprenticeship' in London; his marriage and the birth of his daughters; his move back to Suffolk and the birth of his career; his move to Bath and his incredible success as a society portrait painter; his move to London in 1774 where he reached the peak of his career, despite falling out with the Royal Academy and not being appointed official painter to the King; and his death in 1778.