THOMAS LAWRENCE, P. R.A., 1769 - 1830, EARLY 19TH CENTURY OIL SKETCH ON PANEL Portrait of The Calm

THOMAS LAWRENCE, P. R.A., 1769 - 1830, EARLY 19TH CENTURY OIL SKETCH ON PANELPortrait of The Calmady Children, sgraffito initialled ‘TLP’ (Thomas Lawrence Pinx) and dated 1823 within red drapery lower centre with Colourman’s mark for Thomas Brown, 163 High Holborn (regular supplier to Sir Thomas Lawrence), held in a period giltwood and gesso oval frame.Panel size: 26.5cm x 32cm Sight 26.5cm x 31cmFrame 36.7cm x 42.5cm Provenance: Estate of the late Mrs Madeline A. Price, HerefordshireGUIDE NOTESResearch indicates that this recently discovered work on panel is to be an autograph painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence, and his first compositional study in oil of the Calmady Children, Emily and Laura Ann. Of particular interest in the present work, apart from the obvious compositional similarity to the final painting now in the Met Collection [Accession No: 25.110.1] is a significant difference strongly suggesting this may be an earlier, intermediate compositional study - in this version the raised hand of the younger daughter is omitted, and her mouth more closed. Variants omitting the raised hand are extremely rare with only one version in oil known - in the collection of the Cognacq Jay Musee, Paris. Until now there has been no obvious explanation as to why this version came to exist. After his introduction to the Calmady family by their mutual friend the engraver George Lewis, Lawrence began his portrait study drawings for this work in July 1823, initially portraying the two sisters posed face on. ‘The first rapid chalk sketch, in which both children are seen full face, he gave to Mrs Calmady. A second sketch, smaller than our canvas, also exists, showing the children in the final position,Emily seen in profile looking at her sister, who playfully throws her arm back. In this sketch the heads are worked out in oil and the rest left unfinished in chalk.” ( Bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art p.178) [no image known] signed and dated 1844 by Emily Calmady the eldest daughter At least two drawn versions in chalks are believed to have been gifted by Lawrence to Mrs Calmady, and further copies of these drawings by Lawrence’s studio were produced. Multiple sittings with the family were undertaken in 1823 and 1824, as Lawrence spent a considerable time with the children. Eventually, the worked up final version in oil was exhibited at the Royal Academy in May 1824. Such was the acclaim and success of the painting, Lawrence arranged for the work to be sent to Windsor to be viewed by King George IV. On 25th October, 1824, Sir Thomas wrote to Mrs Calmady thanking her and updating her on the King’s reaction. Within this letter is a most intriguing reference which seems to relate to the number of works Lawrence’s has undertaken of the Calmady children; ‘You are quite right about the initials. I believe five pictures would include all on which I have written them’. ( Page 342, The Life and Correspondence of Sir Thomas Lawrence, by D.E. Williams esq, published bye Colburn and Bentley, 1831). The suggestion that there were ‘five pictures’ would appear to have never been properly investigated. FURTHER NOTES Research has identified a version which closely matches the oil on panel under consideration, and is now in the Musee Cognac-Jay, and which first appeared in Paris after Lawrences’ visit in 1825. Portrait of the Calmady Children, ‘copie apres Sir Thomas Lawrence Ver 1830’https://www.museecognacqjay.paris.fr/en/la-collection/portrait-calmady-children The final painting in the Met - initialled ‘TL Pins’ within the red drapery:https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436850 Portrait drawing of the Calmady children, Provenance of the Calmady family, sold 2015:https://www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/departments/paintings/pw091215-2/view-lot/251/ A further similar portrait drawing, was recently offered by Christies ( image withdrawn ) Drawing of Lawrence’s studio by Mrs Emily Calmady, and referred to by Lawrence in his correspondence:https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4599499 Further examples of Sir Thomas Lawrence working on panel around the same time of the Calmady children: 1825 Portrait of Henry Brougham 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux - OIL ON PANEL - 45” x 32¼” NPG 1824/5 Portrait of Mary Anne Bloxemby - OIL ON PANEL - 30” x 24 1.2” - Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth Texas Also an earlier work - 1810 - Portrait of Benjamin West PRA - OIL ON PANEL 10” x 12.8” (R.A. Collection)(This is identical in size to the panel in question 10.6” x 12.7”)