Thomas Gaisford (1779-1855)

Henry William Pickersgill (1782–1875

c. 1847

Oil on Canvas

88.9 x 69.9 cm

Courtesy of Christ Church, Oxford LP 264 and ArtUK

According to Cynthia Gamble, Thomas Gaisford, the university’s “Regius Professor of Greek, had been Dean since 1831. For Ruskin, whose undergraduate drawings had been so admired by Gaisford, he was England's "greatest scholar" (35.192). John James Ruskin had shown his gratitude to Gaisford for helping his son by sending him a hamper of thirty-six bottles of rare vintage sherry of 1823. Gordon was particularly close to Gaisford, his "chiefly trusted aid" (35.251). His sudden and unexpected death at the age of seventy-seven caused much sorrow.”

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