Thomas Lawrence
British·1769–1830
Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) became the leading Romantic portrait painter in Europe through his brilliant handling of paint and his ability to flatter sitters while capturing genuine character. A child prodigy, he was supporting his family with pastel portraits by age ten while working at his father's coaching inn in Bath. By eighteen, he had established himself in London; by twenty-two, George III appointed him "painter-in-ordinary to his majesty."
Sir Joshua Reynolds observed the young Lawrence and remarked, "This young man has begun at a point of excellence where I left off." Lawrence's fluid brushwork and rich color brought a new energy to British portraiture. His sitters appeared dramatic, almost theatrical, their textures of silk, velvet, and skin rendered with virtuoso skill. After John Hoppner's death in 1810, Lawrence had no rivals. The Prince Regent knighted him in 1815 and sent him across Europe to paint the leaders who defeated Napoleon. Those 24 full-length portraits of monarchs and military heroes now hang together in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle.
Despite his success, Lawrence spent most of his life in debt and never married. His complicated love affairs with the actress Sarah Siddons' daughters became the subject of several books. He collected Old Master drawings, particularly works by Michelangelo and Raphael, now treasures of the Ashmolean Museum. The National Gallery London and Metropolitan Museum hold major portraits. He was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.
Notable Works by Thomas Lawrence
3 paintings catalogued with museum locations
Museums with Thomas Lawrence's Work
2 museums display Lawrence's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
About Thomas Lawrence
Lawrence was Europe's most fashionable portrait painter during the Regency era. His dramatic style and virtuoso brushwork made him the successor to Reynolds and Gainsborough.
The Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle displays 24 portraits of Napoleon's conquerors. The National Gallery London and Metropolitan Museum hold other major works.
Yes. Lawrence was supporting his family with pastel portraits by age ten, working at his father's inn in Bath. At eighteen he moved to London; by twenty-two he was the King's painter.
Lawrence is associated with Romanticism. His theatrical, emotionally charged portraits replaced the cooler elegance of 18th-century British painting.
The Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle displays Lawrence's 24 portraits of monarchs and generals who defeated Napoleon. The Prince Regent sent Lawrence across Europe to paint these leaders.
Lawrence assembled a legendary collection of Old Master drawings, especially Michelangelo and Raphael. These are now treasures of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
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