What you are looking at
A boy in a shimmering blue satin costume from an earlier century stands in a landscape, one hand on his hip and a plumed hat in the other.
Why it is famous
Its sale to the American collector Henry Huntington in 1921 caused an outcry in Britain. In 2022 it returned to London on loan to the National Gallery, a hundred years after it left.
How big is The Blue Boy?
The Blue Boy measures 179.4 × 123.8 cm (70.6 × 48.7 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 5 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the Huntington in San Marino, near Pasadena in Southern California.
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Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Blue Boy?
Thomas Gainsborough painted The Blue Boy in c. 1770.
Where is The Blue Boy?
The Blue Boy is in The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California, United States.
How big is The Blue Boy?
179.4 × 123.8 cm (70.6 × 48.7 in). Its surface is about 5 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Blue Boy made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q604761; Wikipedia, "The Blue Boy". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.