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

Sir Thomas (after) Lawrence

Oil on canvas

c.1830
  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Government Art Collection
  • About the artist
    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.
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  • Details
    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