King William IV (1765-1837) Reigned 1830-37

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Sir Thomas Lawrence was born in Bristol; the son of a supervisor of excise. In 1773 the family moved to Wiltshire to run a coaching inn but financial difficulties led them to move again to Bath, where Lawrence first worked as a portraitist. He may have had lessons from William Hoare, before enrolling at the Royal Academy schools in 1787. Aged 20, he received a royal commission for portraits of Queen Charlotte (1789-90) and Princess Amelia (1789). At 23 he replaced Reynolds as Painter-in-Ordinary and at 25, became a Royal Academician. Despite such success, he never escaped crippling debt. In 1815 he was knighted and commissioned to paint the Waterloo Chamber series of portraits. He replaced West as President of the Royal Academy in 1820.

People

William IV (1765 - 1837)

Places

Subjects

royal portrait, man, ceremonial costume, robe, riband, tassel, livery collar, Order of the Garter, King

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Sir Thomas (after) Lawrence

Title

King William IV (1765-1837) Reigned 1830-37

Date

c.1830

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 76.00 cm, width: 64.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from St Marylebone Alms Houses, February 1958

GAC number

4527