Lawrence, Samuel Paintings

Sir Thomas Lawrence was a leading English portrait painter and the fourth president of the Royal Academy. Born on April 13, 1783, in Bristol, Lawrence was the son of a supervisor of excise taxes and his wife. He displayed artistic talent at an early age, and by the time he was ten, he was supporting his family with his pastel portraits.

Lawrence settled in London in 1794, where he began to study at the Royal Academy. His progress was rapid, and he quickly established himself as a portraitist among the aristocracy. In 1794 he exhibited works at the Academy and received favorable reviews, which contributed to his growing reputation. He became a full member of the Academy in 1794 and succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as Painter-in-Ordinary to King George III.

His early works were mainly in pastels, but he soon turned to oils and developed a style characterized by a rich, creamy impasto and the use of brilliant colors. Lawrence's portraits were known for their elegance and grace, as well as for the psychological insight he brought to his depictions of his sitters. Among his notable works are portraits of the Duke of Wellington, King George IV, and the actress Sarah Siddons.

In 1810, Lawrence was commissioned to travel to Aachen to paint the allied leaders who were gathered for the peace conference following the defeat of Napoleon. This work resulted in a series of impressive portraits that were later exhibited to great acclaim in London.

Lawrence never married and was known to have had several romantic attachments throughout his life, including a notable relationship with Sarah Siddons' daughters. Despite his success, he struggled with financial difficulties due to his extravagant lifestyle and poor money management.

Lawrence was knighted in 1815 and became president of the Royal Academy in 1820, following the death of Benjamin West. He continued to paint and exhibit his work until his death on January 7, 1830, in London. Lawrence's legacy as one of the foremost portraitists of his time endures, and his works are held in many major museums and galleries around the world.