Gainsborough's Morning Walk | Talks for All | National Gallery

This is part of our 'Talks for All' series. Christine Riding, the Head of the Curatorial Department, discusses Gainsborough's 1785 painting, 'Mr. and Mrs. William Hallett', also known as 'The Morning Walk'.
William Hallett and Elizabeth Stephen were both aged 21 and due to be married in the summer of 1785, shortly after the painting was completed. Elizabeth is in a dress of ivory silk - perhaps her wedding dress - caught at the waist with a black silk band.
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The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free of charge and open 361 days per year, daily between 10.00 am - 6.00 pm and on Fridays between 10.00 am - 9.00 pm.
Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
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[@markstarmer3677]

Just came across this lecture on Gainsborough. Really taken aback with the passion and knowledge of Christine Riding. Her sheer enthusiasm and not referring to notes is a joy. She is very infectious. Good stuff.

[@yumba-uz4dn]

I love, love, love the lectures of Mrs Riding. They are brilliant and riveting. Never get tired of listening to her .

[@mathstar4176]

I think the speaker is so special and gives the World such an informative and positive view of the British.👍

[@an.spranger9167]

Brilliant! Such a passionate art historian! Thank you Ms Riding for the context and the many details. Very inspiring. Thank you National Gallery for making it possible.

[@steadydietzine5960]

Enjoyed the talk very much.

[@sharyledoherty176]

Wonderful informative talk. I enjoyed how the speaker connected Gainsborough to his predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Lovely to see the chain of artistic influences.

[@lisastallingskeelor3328]

I’m glad they fixed the background noise so we could hear the speaker.

[@georgemcneely6007]

Excellent talk! Full of information about Gainsborough's life, career, aspirations, as well as the broader art world at that time, including the influence of the Old Masters and the role of the Royal Academy. But Ms. Riding also brings some of her own personal comments on that all - so essential to us gaining perspective on such classics.

[@timlole387]

Amazing lecture - so much information and put so clearly. Loved the context all of which helps enormously to understand and appreciate the picture. Extremely well delivered and barely looking at her notes. Brava!

[@gabriellarrotta8636]

Brilliant lecture, well conducted, clear and fluid. Thank you for the teachings.

[@DavidWhite-ly6sq]

Thank you. You speak with such clarity and enthusiasm bringing the Morning Walk to life. Peace!

[@barbarajohnson1442]

Terrific! I have recently come to appreciate Gainsborough, via his incrediblely expressionistic landscape drawings, the love of material and invention. Wonderfully insightful presentation. I felt his "time" vividly

[@cecilefox9136]

I love them too!

[@robkunkel8833]

Call me superficial but I just love everything about her outfit, hair and presentation. I appreciate the many aspects of the discussion. Art from the viewpoint of the bill paying public is something that I never gave much regard. In all, much learned and I hope for more from this source. Bravo💐

[@sportswriter]

Many thanks, Ms Riding. A real treat on a Saturday afternoon.

[@christianfrommuslim]

Wonderful! Insightful and inspiring. Everyone should have a "Morning Walk" memory in their rough and tumble life.

[@bewareofpigeons]

Wonderful. I have always loved Gainsborough from the days of my youth in Bath. Such an inspiring lecture, which could be the basis for a fascinating book as so many themes were touched upon.

[@NickPenlee]

OK, so this was quite an informed talk and allows one to see this well known painting in a new light I think. It was a well thought out presentation and succeeded in helping us all to see the context, both artistic and cultural, that the painting was 'born' into. I didn't realise how much Gainsborough 'challenged' the art establishment of his era and instead put full trust in his own abilities. Very interesting!

[@annalittle71]

A most interesting talk. Brilliantly put to together and far reaching in insight. Thank you.

[@damianlanigan]

25 minutes in. Still not talking about the painting. Amazing.

[@fbpliegorrivero8869]

Beautiful talk. Thank you.

[@kelleymckinnon1240]

Her humor is so delightful

[@hellyh6081]

Thank you so much for so many interesting insights. I used to visit the National Gallery practically every week as an Art student...but this was a painting I never liked that much.Fascinating to learn so much and to see this painting with new eyes.

[@Calle-zm5dl]

brilliant talk. Interesting from beginning to end. Thank you!!

[@kevinchambers1101]

Truly a brilliant talk.

[@serendipity5951]

Excellent presentation. A non-stop flow of ideas and historical facts. Keep up the good work!

[@LouisHansell]

"The Morning Walk" reminds me of the "Portrait of Mrs. Sheridan", also by Gainsborough, which is in the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Way to go, Christine Riding! Well done!

[@amykritz3140]

Fascinating lecture, thank you.

[@colinmannion3760]

Brilliant talk - so interesting. Thank you 🙂

[@kacperpluta3036]

Chapeau bas Madam, that was a superb talk!

[@geertjestarreveld3125]

I love your story. Very well done.

[@user-vr7ob4cz8c]

Good presentation!

[@sylviapage7784]

Excellent talk

[@michaelbookout7561]

excellent talk enthusiastic informative many thanks M

[@luciavitale5903]

So elegant and generous!

[@hatechickenofficial3819]

💎Perfect!!!💎

[@dave623]

A tidal wave of art words.

[@sg3655]

Excellent

[@lostintheseventies7969]

loved this vid-

[@montgomeryclift2480]

Her head fits actually perfectly into the color range of the painting!

[@anuradhainamdar8967]

I liked how she described ' flamboyant 'about Gainsborough painting.

[@evangelist6277]

Would've loved to learn more about the actual painting.

[@Eris123451]

A dense and thoroughly researched expostulation. One that has given me considerable new insight into an artist who's never particularly interested me before; somewhat hard to keep up with her, the pace she sets her for audience, brisk," and she doesn't take any prisoners , but but yea this the 21st century not the 18th so you can pause it and go back over the tricky bits. Thank you very much, this stuff is a completely different kettle of fish to all condescending and dumbed down crap the BBC are churning out these days.

[@reinadegrillos]

And someone kind please tell me when she talks about the painting? Please?

[@janehollander1934]

Around about the 28 minute mark into this talk...she finally starts talking about this particular painting.✌🏻

[@janehollander1934]

Mrs.C.Riding talks about "everything" BUT this particular Gainsborough painting. Not saying: it's NOT interesting, all this background/context information, but just don't call it a talk about "Gainsborough's Morning Walk". ✌🏻

[@mariagunnarsQ17]

Wow, that was an amazing fact-filled walk through Gainsborough's life. The speaker was a little too fast for me, but nevertheless a great video.

[@juliebrooks3264]

Lord and lady Hallett were my ancestors.

[@lenawarelius4195]

👏👏👏👏🌹🌺🌻🌼

[@williamgmoss]

Scholarship, erudition and engaging enthusiasm - more please

[@dreamrealmartstudios5237]

🖼🖼🖼gifts 🎁

[@Lousysalsero]

Brilliant this may be, but Rubens and Teniers were not Dutch. They were Flemish baroque painters (based in Antwerp).

[@ilksenteksoy4008]

🇹🇷😍🤗MUHTEŞEM Türkiye den sevgiler....!!!!

[@megenberg8]

erudite even at 1.75 speed. worth it.

[@claudiosaltara7003]

Please someone tell her to catch her breath. Too much to fast, but very good

[@jane4sahara]

As soon as I read your comment I knew it was coming from a man, because it's so typical of a man to think it's appropriate to critique someone's talking speed. You never get this sexism when it's a male presenter involved. I listened to this at 1.5 times speed and understood her just fine. As another commenter insinuated, your problem is probably more a reflection of your ageing self. Bottom line: it's all very subjective and frankly, it doesn't matter what an old, random man thinks, she will talk at whatever speed she pleases.

[@Rhys1914]

These are my direct ancestors lol

[@harpist31]

A Pomeranian? Surely not. It looks more like a Japanese Spitz to me.

[@sarahwilliams7017]

Interesting stuff. However the first three minutes can be deleted. Please could professional speakers stop referring to "unpacking" a topic, and stop telling us what they are going they speak about before they actually do? It's wearying to listen to.

[@damianlanigan]

For God's sake talk about the damn painting. This is torture.

[@herrbrucvald6376]

Not enough about the meaning of the painting here.

[@reverendsaltine6852]

Could not stand this talky old frump. I quit at 1:10

[@SonatasysInc]

Boring. Hire Waldemar to do your talks and reap…