| Portrait of Lord Thurlow | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Thomas Lawrence |
| Year | 1803 |
| Type | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 128.5 cm× 102.6 cm(50.6 in× 40.4 in) |
| Location | Royal Collection, London |
Portrait of Lord Thurlow is an 1803 portrait painting by the British artist Thomas Lawrence. [1] It depicts Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow the former Lord Chancellor who held the post from 1778 to 1792. When he sat for Lawrence he was at the end of a long career.
Lawrence had emerged as a child prodigy in Bath in the 1780s. By the early years of the nineteenth century he had established himself In London as portraitist of Society figures. The painting was produced in late 1802. It has been suggested as counter-argument to the idea that Lawrence was excessively flattering to his sitters in the romantic style. He portrays the veteran Thurlow as an aged, plain-dressed and deeply conservative figure. [2]
The painting was originally commissioned.by Caroline of Brunswick but was commandeered by her estranged husband the Prince of Wales the future George IV, who was later to become a frequent patron of Lawrence. [3]
The work was exhibited at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition at Somerset House. It brought near universal acclaim from the press. [4] After visiting the exhibition George III praised It as "a true representation of the man without artificial fancies of dress". Today the painting remains in the Royal Collection. [5]
