The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens has recently started the process of restoring The Blue Boy, painted by renowned artist Thomas Gainsbourough. They are also finishing up the process of loaning the painting to London’s National Gallery.

This will be the first time the museum has loaned the painting, as well as the first time it has hung an artwork in London in 100 years. It has been loaned on account of the National Gallery sending over one of their own paintings in exchange for An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump. Both parties are happy to see the continuation of swapping works of art across continents, as it preserves the relationship between art museums globally. The addition of The Blue Boy back to the United Kingdom (U.K.) preserves the painting’s heritage, as English painter Thomas Gainsbourough greatly influenced art during his time on the British isles. The painting will be displayed  along with many more of Gainsbourough’s works and is currently free to the British public from Jan. 25 to May 3.

This great work of art is currently valued at over nine million dollars, though it won’t be up for auction for the foreseeable future. The opening date of the painting on Jan. 25 marked exactly 100 years since the painting was displayed there before being bought by rare art collector Henry E. Huntington. All while being displayed, attendees swooned over the painting, which was also a favorite of both Huntington and his wife, Arabella. Though the painting is making a return to its home country, Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence has said on record that its delicacy can only be preserved without risk.

“We imagine this to be the one and only time the painting will travel, given its iconic status at the Huntington,” Lawrence explained in an interview. 

She and the rest of the Huntington staff know that the visitors who come from far and wide as well as those who are local both love seeing this centerpiece, and so it can only be readily opened at the Huntington, where its integrity can best be kept. This can be shown with the past 2018 venture to restore the painting to its original glory, as well as find any missing details that were lost due to time. This past conservation was done in public, as to dually teach guests how the practice is done.

When Henry E. Huntington first bought this painting for $728,000 in 1921, he had only somewhat of an idea of its ever reaching grasp. The optimistic depiction of the post-Enlightenment period gives viewers a look into the feelings of the time; it then shows how life must’ve been for those of the upper classes, fighting for ideas of natural rights and more. It’s one of those paintings that causes many to not ever be able to look away for long, for it holds a quiet but comfy place in their hearts.

This painting was and still is highly popular both in the states and in the U.K. The work of art bears a striking resemblance to the vision many have of what life was like long ago, and so, The Blue Boy can be interpreted in various ways. The likely final travel of this composition marks a satisfying conclusion to what was an epic 100 year long journey from the U.S. to the U.K. and back. The depiction can finally go on one more grand journey before being laid to rest in its rightful place.

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