“This painting depicts the solemn scene of Thomas Guy's death, offering a glimpse into 18th-century mourning customs and the public's interest in influential figures.”
This painting captures a poignant moment: the death of Thomas Guy, a prominent London bookseller and philanthropist. We see him on his deathbed, surrounded by figures who appear to be family and attendants, their faces etched with grief and concern. The scene is rendered with a quiet dignity, emphasizing the solemnity of the occasion. The soft, natural light illuminates Guy's pale face and the crisp white linens, drawing our attention to the central figure even in his final moments. This work is one of two genre pieces depicting scenes from Guy's life, suggesting a contemporary interest in his story and legacy. It offers a window into 18th-century social customs surrounding death and the public's fascination with figures of great wealth and charitable giving.
- Artist
- John Theodore Heins
- Date
- 1737
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Norfolk Museums Collections
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The somber expressions on the faces of those gathered around the bed.
The way the light falls on Thomas Guy's face and the bed linens.
The details of the bed hangings and the patterned fabric visible.
The figure in the foreground, perhaps a doctor, checking Guy's pulse.
Stand in front of it and listen
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John Theodore Heins
1697–1756 · United KingdomJohn Theodore Heins was a prolific portrait painter who dominated Norwich's civic art scene for over a decade in the 18th century.
Further Works by Heins
Thomas Guy Counting His Money
1737 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Christopher Amiraut
1739 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Thomas Hurnard (1711/1712–1753), Mayor of Norwich (1752)
1754 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Samuel Bradford (1652–1731), Master (1716–1724), Bishop of Rochester (1723–1731)
1729 · Corpus Christi College
Family Group on a Terrace
1730 · Art Institute of Chicago
John Gainsborough (1711–1772)
1731 · Gainsborough's House
Thomas Gainsborough (1709–1739)
1731 · Gainsborough's House
Isabella Astley (1724-1741), aged eight
1732 · National Trust
More works to explore
Beyond Heins: works from the same years.
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)
Maurice Quentin de Latour · 1752 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Holy family
Adriaen van der Werff · 1725 · Alte Pinakothek
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Hudibras' First Adventure (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 3)
William Hogarth · 1725 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Side Chair
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1750 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Upholstery for a Chair Seat
Philippe de la Salle · 1738 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Residences Memorables de l'Incomporable Heros de Nôtre Siècle, ou Edifices et Jardins de Son Altesse Serenissime Monsigneur Le Prince Eugene François de Savoye et de Piedmont
Salomon Kleiner · 1731 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Image of an Empire in Peace and Prosperity
Zhou Kun · 1745 · National Palace Museum
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Madonna and Child with Saints Peter and Paul
Stefano Mulinari · 1750 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art