Sir thomas lawrence biography of christopher

English portrait painter (1769–1830)

For other people named Thomas Lawrence, see Thomas Lawrence (disambiguation).

Sir Thomas LawrencePRA FRS (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was an English portrait painter and the fourth president of the Royal Academy. A child prodigy, he was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper at the Bear Hotel in the Market Square.

At age ten, having moved to Bath, he was supporting his family with his pastel portraits.

sir thomas lawrence biography of christopher2

At 18, he went to London and soon established his reputation as a portrait painter in oils, receiving his first royal commission, a portrait of Queen Charlotte, in 1789. He stayed at the top of his profession until his death, aged 60, in 1830.

Self-taught, he was a brilliant draughtsman and known for his gift of capturing a likeness, as well as his virtuoso handling of paint.

He became an associate of the Royal Academy in 1791, a full member in 1794, and president in 1820.

Sir Thomas Lawrence | English Portrait Painter | Britannica GIK