Thomas Gainsborough was a famous 18th century painter. He painted many portraits of English ladies wearing fashionable hats with VERY wide brims. Over time this style of hat became associated with his name. There were a revival of this style in the 1890’s and early 1900’s, and this is an example of that style. The hat itself I purchased from a historical millinery site. I trimmed it with antique feathers, black cotton net, black silk ribbon, and a “paste” brooch.