Thomas Lawrence, The Children of Calmady, engraving, nineteenth century

Beautiful engraving "nature to her royal highness the duechess of kent mr queens" by the engraver george thomas doo after the painting "the calmady childrens" by thomas lawrence. Thomas lawrence (1769-1830) was one of the most important painters and portraitists of the english regency. Born in bristol, he began drawing in devizes where his father was an innkeeper. At the age of ten, he financially supported his family by selling portraits. At the age of 18, in 1787, he went to london and became a student at the royal academy. In 1792, he became the painter of king george 3, then of his son, george 3, king of the united kingdom of great britain, ireland and hanover. He was knighted in 1815 and appointed president of the royal academy from 1820 until his death. He was also the master of george henry harlow (history painter and portraitist) and william ety (painter known for his nudes). In 1823, he painted the oil on canvas "the calmady childrens", a portrait of emily and laura calmady, embodying the admiration for the unbridled exuberance of childhood that played a major role in european culture in the late eighteenth century. He describes it as "my best painting... One of the few for which I wish to be known later." this portrait was then made by the english engraver george thomas doo (1800-1886), engraver of king william 4 and queen victoria. It measures, with the frame, 56cm (22.05 inch) by 61cm (24 inch).

Ref. : KP34TYT7