Thomas Gainsborough's doctors

During the 16 years Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) lived in Bath he was especially friendly with two eminent physicians, Rice Charleton (1723-88) and Abel Moysey (1715-80). They both treated Gainsborough for a severe nervous illness. In return he painted portraits of them without charge. Gainsborough's two daughters were both mentally unstable and when the elder one became very ill he had to call for the services of a third Bath physician, Dr Ralph Schomberg (1714-92), who was also the subject of a fine portrait. In the final phase of his life Gainsborough moved to London, where he suffered his fatal illness, possibly squamous cell carcinoma. For this he was treated by William Heberden (1710-1801) and John Hunter (1728-93).