Accomplished artist, Thomas Gainsborough, his wife Margaret and their two daughters live a quiet rural at times idyllic life in Ipswich where the enjoys painting landscapes sometimes accompanied by his young daughters. Encouraged by Thomas’ friend Philip Thicknesse the family move as he believes that Gainsborough could further his artistic talents in the city of Bath. It would also help his two daughters and as their mother Margaret continually expresses her desire that they move away from the countryside tor the betterment of her daughter’s future lives.

However, there is a great family secret. The elder of the two daughters, Molly is “not well” and prone to strange behaviour at times. This is related to this great secret - it is in their mothers bloodline.

Peg or Peggy or, the Captain, as her father often refers to her, adores and is protective of her older sister and sees it as her responsibility to not let outsiders see her sister when she has one of these odd episodes. Molly is also prone to sleep walking and so Peg ties silk ribbons around her sister to herself at night to try and stop this as it causes great distress in the household.

The daughters do not want to leave their happy life in Suffolk, but their parents have made up their mind to go to Bath where Thomas Gainsborough becomes extremely popular a portrait painter. Thicknesse becomes more influential in the families affairs much to the chagrin of his wife Margaret. The way his which the story unfolds this feeling is strongly felt.

One of Thicknesse’s influences is to send the girls away to school, to their own protestations and their mothers but as it turns out this is where they develop and learn the skills they will need to mix in society, suitable for finding an eligible husband. Surprisingly it is Molly who marries one of her father’s friends but with her husband's lies, deceit and her not being well, it all ends in heartbreak and tears.

The story examines the relationships between mother, daughters, adoring father, animosity towards their cousin Gainsborough Gainsborough (Dupont) who is brought in as an apprentice to Thomas and other people in their close circle. Both daughters dislike their younger cousin intensely, with Peggy wishing she was her father’ apprentice, which at the time was not possible for a young lady.

It also delves into this great secret, which must be kept under wraps no matter what,  But as we read the story and if you have some knowledge of British history it isn’t difficult to hazard a guess before finding out the real reasons for this secret.

The exquisite writing makes this enjoyable reading with it’s intrigue and gripping plot of the story, but also the factual history on which it is based.

Readers of Stacey Hall’s books, The Founding, The Familiars, Mrs England are sure to enjoy reading The Painter’s Daughters. I look forward to reading the next book by Emily Howes. 

The Author

Emily Howes has worked as a storyteller, theatre maker, performer, writer and director in stage, television and radio. Her short stories have been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, the Bath Short Story Award, the New Scottish Writing Award and she won the Mslexia Novel Award 2021. In addition to writing fiction, Emily has a Masters in Existential Psychotherapy and works as a psychotherapist in private practice. She lives in London with her children. The Painter's Daughters is her first novel.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review - Buy me a coffee 

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