This Week's Anniversary.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

This Week's Anniversary.

SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE, 1769 - 1830. President Royal Academy. DIED JANUARY 7. 1830. 4 17A? ™ OMAS LAWRENCE wa. bom at Bristol on May tJLltll th \f OUngert •» •«*•*» children, and the .on of an innkeeper. Ha seem, to have been a born artist, for at five year, of age he could produce remarkable portrait, in pend and chalk-. Hi. father .uffered reverses, and the boy became the chief rapport of the family. He wu removed from school at eight year, of age and received no further regular education. At the ip of 13 he received a special •ward from the Society of Arts. In 1787 Lawrence removed to London, where he was introduced to Sir Joshua Reynolds, and where his fame and practice rapidly increased. At the request of George 111. he wa. in 1791 elected a "Supplemental Associate** of the Royal Academy, not being old enough for regular membership. In 1815 he was knighted, and soon afterward, removed to the Continent. On his return in 1820 he wa. elected the third president of the Royal Academy. Sir Joshua Reynolds and Benjamin West being his predecessors. He died on January 7. 1830, and the body was interred in St. Paul*. Cathedral. In 1926 Sir Thomas Lawrence's picture "Pinkie" (a portrait of Miss Barrett), for which he had received £160, was sold at auction to a dealer for 74.000 guineas. This wa. said to be the record price paid for a portrait up to that time—perhaps for all time. (Compiled by A. H. Reed, Dnnedln.)