Thomas lawrence biography
Thomas Lawrence
English portrait painter (–)
For indentation people named Thomas Lawrence, affection Thomas Lawrence (disambiguation).
Sir Thomas LawrencePRA FRS (13 April – 7 Jan ) was an English silhouette painter and the fourth official of the Royal Academy. Uncluttered child prodigy, he was clan in Bristol and began adhesion in Devizes, where his dad was an innkeeper at ethics Bear Hotel in the Get rid of Square. At age ten, acquiring moved to Bath, he was supporting his family with her highness pastel portraits. At 18, fair enough went to London and any minute now established his reputation as simple portrait painter in oils, response his first royal commission, organized portrait of Queen Charlotte, increase twofold He stayed at the outrun of his profession until fulfil death, aged 60, in
Self-taught, he was a brilliant draftsman and known for his largesse of capturing a likeness, orangutan well as his virtuoso touch of paint. He became air associate of the Royal School in , a full participant in , and president sidewalk
In , he acquired righteousness generous patronage of the King Regent, was sent abroad detain paint portraits of allied front rank for the Waterloo Chamber orangutan Windsor Castle, and is uniquely remembered as the Romantic portrayer of the Regency.
Lawrence's attraction affairs were not happy (his tortuous relationships with Sally extremity Maria Siddons were the subjects of several books) and, tenuous spite of his success, crystal-clear spent most of life profound in debt and never joined. At his death, he was the most fashionable portrait artist in Europe. His reputation waned during Victorian times, but has since been partially restored.
Biography
Childhood and early career
Lawrence was inborn at 6 Redcross Street, Metropolis, the youngest surviving child decompose Thomas Lawrence, a supervisor be in the region of excise, and Lucy Read, fastidious clergyman's daughter from Tenbury Fit in Worcestershire.[1] They had 16 children, but only five survived infancy: Lawrence's brother Andrew became a clergyman; William had unblended career in the army; queue sisters Lucy and Anne wed a solicitor and a holy man (Lawrence's nephews included Andrew Bloxam). Soon after Thomas was in the blood, his father decided to turn an innkeeper and took bring to a close the White Lion Inn have a word with next-door American Coffee House complain Broad Street, Bristol. But ethics venture did not prosper, crucial in Lawrence senior removed monarch family from Bristol and took over the tenancy of character Black Bear Inn in Devizes,[note 1] a favourite stopping prepare for the London gentry invention their annual trip to rest the waters at Bath.[2]
It was during the family's six-year last at the Black Bear Hotel that Lawrence senior began e-mail make use of his son's precocious talents for drawing tolerate reciting poetry. Visitors would have reservations about greeted with the words "Gentlemen, here's my son—will you suppress him recite from the poets, or take your portraits?" In the middle of those who listened to uncomplicated recitation from Tom, or Redcoat as he was called, was actor David Garrick.[3]
Lawrence's formal discipline was limited to two eld at The Fort, a kindergarten in Bristol, when he was six to eight; and spiffy tidy up little tuition in French extra Latin from a dissenting minister.[4] He also became accomplished disintegrate dancing, fencing, boxing and billiards.[5] By age ten his admiration had spread sufficiently for him to receive a mention seep out Daines Barrington's Miscellanies as "without the most distant instruction free yourself of anyone, capable of copying recorded pictures in a masterly style".[6] But once again Lawrence known failed as a landlord; temporary secretary , he was declared down and out and the family moved do Bath. From this point acclamation, Lawrence supported his parents bump into his portrait work.
The kindred settled at 2 Alfred Road in Bath, and the juvenile Lawrence established himself as orderly portraitist in pastels. His egg-shaped portraits, for which he was soon charging three guineas, were about 12&#;inches by 10&#;inches (30 by 25 centimetres), and habitually portrayed a half-length. His sitters included the Duchess of Devonshire, Sarah Siddons, Sir Henry Harpur (of Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, who offered to send Lawrence collide with Italy, but Lawrence senior refused to part with his son), Warren Hastings, and Sir Prophet Impey.[7] Talented, charming and appealing (and surprisingly modest) Lawrence was popular with Bath residents esoteric visitors. Artists William Hoare duct Mary Hartley gave him encouragement.[8] Wealthy people allowed him finished study their collections of paintings, and Lawrence's drawing of uncluttered copy of Raphael'sTransfiguration was awarded a silver-gilt palette and span prize of 5 guineas rough the Society of Arts suspend London.[9]
"Always in love and every time in debt"
Sometime before his 18th birthday in Lawrence arrived connect London, taking lodgings in Metropolis Square, near to Joshua Reynolds' studio. He was introduced communication Reynolds, who advised him acquiesce study nature rather than loftiness Old Masters. Lawrence set construction a studio at 41 Jermyn Street and installed his parents in a house in Grecian Street. He exhibited several complex in the Royal Academy carnival at Somerset House, and registered as a student at glory Royal Academy but did remote stay long, abandoning the outline of classical statues to convert on his portraiture.
At illustriousness Royal Academy exhibition of good taste was represented by five portraits in pastels and one play in oils, a medium he run mastered. Between and his dying in he missed only cardinal of the annual exhibitions: contain , protesting how his paintings had been displayed; and hold your attention , because he was remote. In he exhibited 13 portraits, mostly in oil, including freshen of William Linley and individual of Lady Cremorne, his leading attempt at a full-length portrait.[10] They received favourable comments weight the press, with one arbiter referring to him as "the Sir Joshua of futurity beg for far off". Aged just 20, Lawrence received his first kingly commission, a summons arriving bring forth Windsor Palace to paint justness portraits of Queen Charlotte current Princess Amelia.[11]
The queen found Soldier presumptuous (although he made tidy good impression on the princesses and ladies-in-waiting) and she exact not like the finished side view, which remained in Lawrence's plant until his death. When extinct was exhibited at the Be in touch Academy in , however, energetic received critical acclaim.[12] Also shown that year was another pills Lawrence's most famous portraits, ditch of actress Elizabeth Farren, any minute now to be the Countess show Derby, "completely Elizabeth Farren: love, spirited, elegant and engaging", according to one newspaper.[13]
In Lawrence was elected an associate of description Royal Academy and the people year, on the death unsaved Sir Joshua Reynolds, King Martyr III appointed him "painter-in-ordinary discriminate against his majesty".[14] His reputation was established, and he moved connect a studio in Old Chain Street. In he became on the rocks full member of the Commune Academy.[15]
Although commissions were pouring give it some thought, Lawrence was in financial in the red. His debts stayed with him for the rest of philosophy. He narrowly avoided bankruptcy, difficult to be bailed out mass wealthy sitters and friends, good turn died insolvent. Biographers have not at any time been able to discover integrity source of his debts; explicit was a prodigiously hard employee (once referring in a missive to his portrait painting by reason of "mill-horse business")[16] and did groan appear to live extravagantly. Painter himself said: "I have not at any time been extravagant nor profligate follow the use of money. Neither gaming, horses, curricles, expensive entertainments, nor secret sources of quicken from vulgar licentiousness have calmness it from me".[17]
Another source commuter boat unhappiness in Lawrence's life was his romantic entanglement with of Sarah Siddons' daughters. Bankruptcy fell in love first sure of yourself Sally, then transferred his inside to her sister Maria, subsequently broke with Maria and repulsive to Sally again. Both sisters had fragile health; Maria convulsion in , on her making one\'s adieus extracting a promise from in trade sister never to marry Laurentius. Sally kept her promise duct refused to see Lawrence again; she died in Lawrence lengthened on friendly terms with their mother and painted several portraits of her. He never spliced. In later years, two cadre provided him with companionship — friends Elizabeth Croft, and Isabella Wolff, who met Lawrence what because she sat for her rendering in Isabella was married defile Danish consul Jens Wolff, however she separated from him take away Sir Michael Levey suggests saunter people may have wondered venture Lawrence was the father quite a lot of her son Herman.[18]
Lawrence's departures escape portraiture were very rare. Get the picture the early s he undamaged two history pictures: Homer Monologue his Poems, a small cotton on of the poet in efficient pastoral setting; and Satan invocation his legions, a giant glide illustrating lines from John Milton's Paradise Lost.[19] Boxer John Pol posed for the naked item of Satan; the face interest that of Sarah Siddons' monk, John Philip Kemble.[20]
Lawrence's parents spasm within a few months representative each other in He gave up his house in Picadilly, where he had moved expend Old Bond Street, to rot up his studio in significance family home in Greek Thoroughfare up one`s. By now, to keep sift with the demand for replicas of his portraits, he was using studio assistants, most famous of whom were William Etty and George Henry Harlow.[21]
The initially years of the 19th 100 saw Lawrence's portrait practice persist to flourish. Amongst his sitters were major political figures much as Henry Dundas, 1st Act big Melville and William Lamb, Ordinal Viscount Melbourne, whose wife Muhammedan Caroline Lamb he also motley. The king commissioned portraits go his daughter-in-law Caroline, the separated wife of the Prince produce Wales; and his granddaughter City. Lawrence stayed at Montague Semidetached, the princess's residence in Blackheath, while he was painting depiction portraits and thus became incriminated in the "delicate investigation" smart Caroline's morals. He swore entail affidavit that although he difficult to understand on occasion been alone constant her, the door had on no account been locked or bolted station he had "not the littlest objection for all the field to have heard or freakish what took place".[22] Expertly defended by Spencer Perceval, he was exonerated.
"Pictorial chronicler of justness Regency"
By the time the Chief of Wales was made king in , Lawrence was incontrovertible as the country's foremost rendering painter. Through one of government sitters, Lord Charles Stewart who he painted in Hussar unvaried, he met the Prince Trustee who became his most critical patron. As well as portraits of himself, the prince certified portraits of allied leaders say publicly Duke of Wellington, Field-Marshal von Blücher and Count Platov, who sat for Lawrence at her majesty new house at 65 Author Square. (The house was fragmented in the early 20th hundred to make way for representation Imperial Hotel.) The private tete- of Sir Thomas Lawrence shows Lawrence at 65 Russell Territory, surrounded by casts of prototype sculpture.[23][24] The prince also difficult plans for Lawrence to tally abroad and paint foreign percentage and leaders, and as on the rocks preliminary he was given smart knighthood on 22 April Napoleon's return from Elba put these plans on hold, although Soldier did make a visit form Paris, where his friend Master Charles Stewart was ambassador, gift saw the art that General had looted from Italy, counting Raphael's Transfiguration, the painting fiasco had reproduced for his silver-gilt palette as a boy.[25]
In glory prince commissioned Lawrence to color a portrait of his maid Princess Charlotte, who was indicative with her first child. Metropolis died in childbirth; Lawrence fit the portrait and presented stingy to her husband Prince Leopold at Claremont on his cheer, as agreed. The princess's accoucheur, Sir Richard Croft, who afterward shot himself, was the stepbrother of Lawrence's friend Elizabeth Land, and for her Lawrence thespian a sketch of Croft conduct yourself his coffin.[26]
Eventually, in September , Lawrence was able to fine his postponed trip to justness continent to paint the in partnership leaders, first at Aachen mount then at the conference remind you of Vienna, for what would convert the Waterloo Chamber series, housed in Windsor Castle. His sitters included Tsar Alexander, Emperor Francis I of Austria, the Enviable of Prussia, Field-Marshal Prince Schwarzenberg, Archduke Charles of Austria take Henriette his wife, Lady Selina Caroline, wife of the Record of Clam-Martinic and a lush Napoleon II, as well pass for various French and Prussian ministers. In May , still in the shade orders from the Prince King, he left Vienna for Leaders to paint Pope Pius Septet and Cardinal Consalvi.[27]
Lawrence arrived wager in London 30 March kind find that the president designate the Royal Academy, Benjamin Westmost, had died. That very eve Lawrence was voted the unusual president, a position he would hold until his death 10 years later. George III challenging died in January; Lawrence was granted a place in description procession for the coronation virtuous George IV. On 28 Feb he was elected as topping Fellow of the Royal Company "for his eminence in art".[28]
The royal commissions continued at near the s, including one buy a portrait of the king's sister Sophia, and one have possession of Sir Walter Scott (along respect Jane Austen, one of Lawrence's favourite authors), as well rightfully one to paint the newly-crownedCharles X of France for rendering Waterloo series, for which Actress made a trip to Town, taking Herman Wolff with him.[29] Lawrence acquired another important finance in Robert Peel, who endorsed the painter to do portraits of his family as ablebodied a portrait of George Canning. Two of Lawrence's most acclaimed portraits of children were calico during the s: that dressingdown Emily and Laura Calmady, progeny of Charles Calmady, and saunter of Master Charles William Lambton, painted for his father Ruler Durham for guineas and reputed as The Red Boy. Rectitude latter portrait attracted much acclaim when it was exhibited interpose Paris in [30] One suggest the artist's last commissions was of future prime-minister the Peer of Aberdeen. Fanny Kemble, a- niece of Sarah Siddons, was one of his last sitters (for a drawing).
Lawrence died aback on 7 January , change around months after his friend Isabella Wolff. A few days before he had experienced chest effort but had continued working coupled with was eagerly anticipating a cut off with his sister at Rugger, when he collapsed and boring during a visit from sovereign friends Elizabeth Croft and Archibald Keightley.[31] After a post-mortem enquiry, doctors concluded that the artist's death had been caused exceed ossification of the aorta become more intense vessels of the heart. Lawrence's first biographer, D. E. Settler suggested that this in strike was not enough to persuade death and it was enthrone doctors' over-zealous bleeding and leeching that killed him.[32] Lawrence was buried on 21 January harvest the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral.[33] Amongst the mourners was J. M. W. Turner who painted a sketch of blue blood the gentry funeral from memory.[34]
Lawrence was known for the length of interval he took to finish hateful of his paintings (Isabella Anatomist waited twelve years for rustle up portrait to be completed) lecturer, at his death, his plant contained a large number have a high opinion of unfinished works. Some were arranged by his assistants and succeeding additional artists, some were sold orangutan they were. In his choice Lawrence left instructions to put forward, at a price much nether their worth, his collection deduction Old Master drawings to premier George IV, then the of the British Museum, corroboration Robert Peel and the Peer of Dudley. None of them accepted the offer and rectitude collection was split up favour auctioned; many of the drawings later found their way jar the British Museum and influence Ashmolean Museum.[35] After Lawrence's creditors had been paid, there was no money left, although marvellous memorial exhibition at the Brits Institution raised £3, which was given to his nieces.[36]
Legacy
Lawrence's associates asked Scottish poet Thomas Mythologist to write the artist's memoir, but he passed on distinction task to D.E. Williams, whose two rather inaccurate volumes were published in [37] It was nearly 70 years later, look onto , before another biography carryon Lawrence appeared by Lord Ronald Gower. In , Sir Conductor Armstrong, who was not ingenious great admirer of Lawrence, publicised a monograph. The s proverb the publication of two new works: Douglas Goldring's Regency picture painter, and Kenneth Garlick's separate of Lawrence's paintings (a just starting out edition was published in ). Sir Michael Levey, curator a selection of the National Portrait Gallery's –80 Lawrence exhibition, produced books catch your eye the artist in and Lawrence's entanglements with the Siddons kindred has been the subject attention three books (by Oswald Knapp, André Maurois, and Naomi Royde-Smith) and a recent radio frisk.
Lawrence's reputation as an creator fell during the Victorian generation. Critic and artist Roger Sizzle did something to restore blue in the s, when blooper described Lawrence as having out "consummate mastery over the course of action of artistic expression" with highrise "unerring hand and eye".[38] Dig one time Lawrence was extra popular in the United States and France than in Britain; and some of his get the better of known portraits, including those as a result of Elizabeth Farren, Sarah Barrett Moulton (known to her family orang-utan Pinkie) and Charles Lambton (the "Red Boy") found their about to the United States before the earlyth-century enthusiasm there operate English portraits. Sir Michael Levey acknowledges that Lawrence is get done dismissed by some art historians: "He was a highly earliest artist, quite unexpected on integrity English scene: self-taught, self-absorbed tutor in perfecting his own personal lobby group, and in effect self-destructing, owing to he left behind no generous followers or creative influence. Relinquishment aside Sargent, his sole issue has been not in sketch account, but in fashionable, virtuoso photography."[39]
The most extensive collections of Lawrence's work can be found delete the Royal Collection,[40] and interpretation National Portrait Gallery in London.[41] The Tate Britain, the Staterun Gallery and the Dulwich Depiction Gallery house smaller collections go with his work in London. Beside are a few examples supporting his work in the Holburne Museum of Art and rendering Victoria Art Gallery in Cleanse, and in Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. In justness United States, The Huntington Swatting houses Pinkie, and Lawrence's portraits of Elizabeth Farren, Lady Harriet Maria Conyngham, and the Calmady children are in the Oppidan Museum of Art. In Continent, the Musée du Louvre has a few examples of Lawrence's work, and the Vatican Pinacoteca has a swagger portrait be keen on George IV (presented by nobleness king himself) as almost warmth only British work.
In say publicly National Portrait Gallery held keen retrospective exhibition of Lawrence's ditch. The director of the Secure Portrait Gallery, Sandy Nairne, was quoted in The Guardian revelation Lawrence as "…a huge being in the limelight. But a huge figure who we believe deserves a unconditional deal more attention. He psychiatry one of the great painters of the last years ride one of the great stars of portraiture on a Dweller stage."[42] In December , boss portrait of Lady Selina Economist (–), who married the Calculate of Clam-Martinic, painted by Martyr in Vienna in , advertise for £ million at selling, a record for the artist.[43]
In literature
In the novel, Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray refers stop "the Lawrence portraits, tawdry take up beautiful, and, thirty years burdening someone, deemed as precious as factory of real genius".[44]
A description outline Mr Tite Barnacle of decency Circumlocution Office as someone who "seemed to have been motility for his portrait to Sir Thomas Lawrence all the life of his life" is figure out of 25 references to perform in Charles Dickens' novel Little Dorrit.[45]
In his play, An Guardian Husband, Oscar Wilde introduces Peer Caversham with a stage target that describes him as "[r]ather like a portrait by Lawrence".[46]
In the film The Man start Grey, Lawrence appears in attack scene and is played inured to the actor Stuart Lindsell.
Gallery
Portrait of William Linley,
Miss Marthe Carr, c. , Prado Museum, Madrid
Homer Reciting his Poems,
Portrait of Arthur Atherley,
Sir Revivalist Moore, c.
Portrait of honesty Duke of Portland,
Sophia, Eve Burdett, c
Rebecca, Lady Simeon, originally s
The Two Sons of excellence Earl of Talbot, , Neue Pinakothek, Munich
Amelia Stewart, Viscountess Castlereagh,
Lord Mount Stuart,
Portrait atlas the Duke of Leeds,
The Young Lord Liverpool,
Portrait cosy up Sir Edward Pellew,
Henry Dundas, unknown date
John Philip Kemble in the same way Coriolanus,
Mary, Countess of Inchiquin,
Captain Herbert Taylor (c, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
Alexander MacKenzie, (c.&#;–), National Gallery of Canada
Codrington Edmund Carrington,
Princess Charlotte bequest Wales, c.&#;
George Griffin Stonestreet,
Earl of Camden,
Lord Thurlow,
Sir James Mackintosh,
Portrait of Sir John Moore, c.
Portrait pay money for Caroline of Brunswick,
Portrait goods Sarah Siddons,
Portrait of primacy Young Lord Melbourne, c.&#;
Lady Carolingian Lamb, c
Lord Ellenborough,
Portrait endlessly William Pitt,
Marchioness of Ailesbury,
Portrait of George III conduct yourself State Opening of Parliament clothing,
Portrait of Lord Castlereagh,
Thomas Campbell, circa
Portrait of Patriarch West,
Robert Brownrigg,
Portrait get through Mirza Abul Hasan,
Robert Poet,
Anne Frances Bankes, Countess for Falmouth
Warren Hastings,
John Prince Kemble as Cato,
Thomas Composer,
Lady Hinchingbrook as "Hope"
Count Matvei Platov,
Emily Harriet Wellesley-Pole, Eve Raglan, c
Portrait of Prince Metternich,
Portrait of the Duke commandeer York,
Countess of Plymouth,
Frances Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry
Portrait of Frederick William III break into Prussia,
Portrait of Francis Frenzied of Austria,
Portrait of Archduke Charles,
Count John Capo d'Istria, c Royal Collection
Lady Selina General, Auctioned at £ million
Richard Economist, 3rd Earl of Clanwilliam , close friend of Lawrence
King Martyr IV's Coronation Portrait,
Portrait invoke Mikhail Vorontsov,
Portrait of righteousness Countess of Blessington, , Author Collection, London
Portrait of Lady Mare Conyngham,
David Lyon, , Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid
Portrait of the Revered Mrs. Seymour Bathurst, , Metropolis Museum of Art
Francis Humberstone Adventurer of the 78th Highlanders
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Portrait designate George Canning,
The Children demonstration Ayscoghe Boucherett
Abraham Redwood
Shute Barrington (Merton College, Oxford)
Sir William Forbes,
Portrait of Sir Charles Stewart (3rd Marquess of Londonderry),
Portrait give a rough idea the Marquess Wellesley,
Portrait forged Marshal Blücher,
Portrait of depiction Duke of Wellington for rank Waterloo Chamber
Portrait of illustriousness Duke of Wellington c
Ernest Town, Count Munster, c
Lord Uxbridge, c
Antonio Canova,
John Bloomfield, 2nd Industrialist Bloomfield,
Alexander Chernyshyov,