August 2

Thomas Gainsborough was one of the 18th century’s most successful painters. While he dabbled in landscapes, he was principally known for his portraits. In a world without photography, portraits were highly valued keepsakes of loved ones and a decent portraitist was in strong demand, and quite well paid. One client, upon viewing a portrait of his wife done by Gainsborough, remarked that the subject of the painting looked nothing like his wife. To this, Gainsborough allegedly replied that the client ‘should not worry because in a few years time no one would know the difference.’ Gainsborough died on the 2nd in 1788. There is no apparent connection between Gainsborough’s rather flippant comment and his death.

Also on the 2nd in 1931, Albert Einstein urged all scientists to refuse military work. Eight years to the day later, he would recommend that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt begin work on the Manhattan Project, which would ultimately give the world the atomic bomb.