Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

Sir Thomas Lawrence P.R.A. (1769-1830)

Portrait of the Calmady children of Langdon Court, Devon

Signed T. Lawrence PRA Delit

Pencil and coloured chalks, in a period giltwood frame

75 x 62cm; 29½ x 24½in

Provenance:

By descent in the sitters' family until purchased by the present owner at Bearne's 3rd-4th July 2001 lot 286

Literature:

Sir Thomas Lawrence, A Complete Catalogue of the Paintings by Kenneth Garlick, mentioned in footnote to No. 152, p.161

The Life and Correspondence of Sir Thomas Lawrence by D. E. Williams (1831), p. 337 onwards, Extract: Upon the mother's expressing her delight at the chalk drawing, as soon as the two heads were sketched in, he replied, "that he would devote that day to doing a little more to it, and would beg her acceptance of it, as he would begin another".

The public, in one sense, must be glad at this liberality, for a more free, masterly, and exquisitely beautiful sketch was scarcely ever made. It may be doubted, however, whether, upon the whole, this circumstance is to be rejoiced in, for the sketch gave promise of a more beautiful piece than that which he afterwards completed. Both the faces were full, and that of the child now in profile was even more beautiful than the side face; and both were rich and lovely, and more soft and delicate in the sketch than in the finished picture.

A portrait of Emily and Laura Anne Calmady, the eldest daughters of Charles B. Calmady and his wife, Emily Greenwood. This drawing is inscribed on the backing panel and also on a letter by the mother, Emily. The drawing has been confirmed by Dr. Kenneth Garlick in 2002 as the original drawing to the painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, which Lawrence himself favoured as one of the few by which he would wish to be known.

The inscription on the backing panel reads:

Emily & Laura Calmady. Born 1818 & 1820 drawn by Sir Thom. Lawrence, P.R.A. July 1823 & intended to be painted on but being much admired by their mother this drawing was presented to her & the present painting begun

Exhibited in Soho Square in 1824

Engraved by F. C. Lewis 1825

Leant to the Directors of the British Institution, Pall Mall 1830 exhibited with other works after Sir Thos.' death that year. Was returned by them in the Waggon instead of the Mail by which they received it & was wet through & spoiled. E.C.

The letter reads similarly but also adds:

Engraved by F. C. Lewis in 1825. 800 of the engravings were sold within a month after its publication. Signed Emily Calmady. 1844