Thomas Lawrence was born in Bristol on 13 April 1769, a birth year he shared with Arthur Wellesley and Napoleon Bonaparte, two men who would be responsible for shaping much of the historical period in which the artist would live and work. The future painter was the youngest surviving child of Thomas and Lucy Lawrence. The family was not wealthy; the father had been a Supervisor of Excise, but in 1772 retired due to the poor pay and instead opened the Black Bear Inn. Thomas had two brothers and two sisters:
c.1780-81. Metalpoint on vellum. 10.5 x 8 cm. The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, UK.
c.1780-81. Pencil on paper. 19 x 30.5 cm. The Trustees of the Burghley House Collection, Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK.
c.1780. Pastel on paper. 33 x 43 cm. Duke of Beaufort, Badminton House, Gloucetshire, UK.
Oil on canvas. 151 x 128.2 cm. The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, UK.
1782. Pastel on paper. 30 x 24 cm. Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, UK. Read Note.
1786. Pastel on paper. 30 x 25 cm. National Portrait Gallery, London, UK.
1788. Pastel on paper. 31 x 26 cm. National Portrait Gallery, London, UK.
1788-1791. Oil on canvas.95.2 x110.4cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
1788-1791. Oil on canvas.95.2 x110.4cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
1788-1791. Oil on canvas. 95.2 x 110.4 cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
1788-1791. Oil on canvas.95.2 x 110.4 cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
1788. Pencil and chalk on paper. 19.9 x 16.2 cm. Private collection.
1789. Oil on canvas. 76.2 x 63.5 cm. Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, UK.
1789. Oil on canvas. 241.3 x 144.8 cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
1789. Oil on canvas. 241.3 x 144.8 cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
c.1789. Oil on canvas.76.2 x 63.5 cm. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
c.1789. Oil on canvas. 76.2 x 63.5 cm. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
1789. 45.8 x 31.2 cm. Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, London, UK.
1789. 45.8 x 31.2 cm. Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, London, UK.
c.1790. Oil on canvas. 76.2 x 63.5 cm. National Portrait Gallery, London, UK.
Thomas Lawrence: Regency Power & Brilliance by Cassandra Albinson, Peter Funnell, Lucy Pelz. YC British Art, 2011.
Sir Thomas Lawrence by Sir Michael Levey. Yale University Press, 2006.
Thomas Lawrence by Geoffrey Ashton. International Publishers Marketing, 2006.
Life and Correspondence of Sir Thomas Lawrence, Kt. by D E. Williams. Nabu Press, 2010.