A Church in a Wooded Landscape c. late 1770s - early 1780s

This charcoal sketch by renowned English artist Thomas Gainsborough, created in the late 1770s or early 1780s, depicts a church nestled within a wooded landscape. The composition features a single tall spire dominating the scene, while the rest of the church building is partially obscured by foliage. Gainsborough's signature loose and gestural brushstrokes create a sense of atmospheric depth and light, characteristic of his landscape works. The sketch, likely a study for a larger painting, showcases Gainsborough's ability to capture the essence of a rural English scene with minimal detail and a focus on the interplay of light and shadow.