In Russia, works of British art are rarely found in museums and private collections. The Arkhangelsk Museum houses a painting by Thomas Lawrence, the prominent English artist of the Regency era. The era of the Regency refers to the period in the history of England from 1811 to 1820, when the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, ruled the state due to the incapacity of his father George III. Regency is the time of dandyism and Anglomania in Europe.
Lawrence was born in Bristol in 1769. His father owned a small hotel but went bankrupt, and Thomas had to support the whole family, earning a living by painting pencil portraits.
In 1787, the future artist went to London, where he entered the Royal Academy of Arts. In 1791, Lawrence was elected a corresponding member and became an academician in 1794. At the age of 46, Lawrence was beknighted. His fame as a portrait painter grew, and in 1820, he became the president of the Royal Academy of Arts. He was nicknamed “the painter of kings and king of painters”. Sovereigns, church hierarchy, military leaders, prominent diplomats and socialites considered it an honor to have a portrait painted by the famous English artist.
The Museum acquired Lawrence’s “Family Portrait” from a private collection in 1966. The painting depicts Francis William Caulfield, Earl of Charlemont, his wife Anne and the eldest son Viscount Caulfield.
Lady Charlemont was a celebrated beauty of her time: she had ardent and devoted admirers, including Byron, who mentioned her in the first edition of the poem “Don Juan”. The later edition did not have the lines addressed to Anna, which was most probably due to Lord Charlemont, who did not want his wife’s name to be associated with the literary work that was condemned in society. Byron confessed to one of his friends:
Lawrence was born in Bristol in 1769. His father owned a small hotel but went bankrupt, and Thomas had to support the whole family, earning a living by painting pencil portraits.
In 1787, the future artist went to London, where he entered the Royal Academy of Arts. In 1791, Lawrence was elected a corresponding member and became an academician in 1794. At the age of 46, Lawrence was beknighted. His fame as a portrait painter grew, and in 1820, he became the president of the Royal Academy of Arts. He was nicknamed “the painter of kings and king of painters”. Sovereigns, church hierarchy, military leaders, prominent diplomats and socialites considered it an honor to have a portrait painted by the famous English artist.
The Museum acquired Lawrence’s “Family Portrait” from a private collection in 1966. The painting depicts Francis William Caulfield, Earl of Charlemont, his wife Anne and the eldest son Viscount Caulfield.
Lady Charlemont was a celebrated beauty of her time: she had ardent and devoted admirers, including Byron, who mentioned her in the first edition of the poem “Don Juan”. The later edition did not have the lines addressed to Anna, which was most probably due to Lord Charlemont, who did not want his wife’s name to be associated with the literary work that was condemned in society. Byron confessed to one of his friends:
