The Life and Career of Thomas Gibson Born in London around 1680, Thomas Gibson established himself as a steady presence in the English art scene as both a portrait painter and a copyist. His professional standing was solidified by his appointment as a founding director of Godfrey Kneller's Academy in London at Great Queen Street. This position placed him at the center of the city's artistic instruction and practice during a formative period for British portraiture. The trajectory of his career was not without its interruptions. Between 1729 and 1731, a period of serious illness forced him t…