Studio of Sir Thomas Lawrence Oil Portrait of Three Young Children

This is a beautiful large scale early 19th century oil portrait painting on canvas depicting three young angelic looking children,‘ studio of ‘ Sir Thomas Lawrence being attributed to one of his pupils and possibly produced under his influence. Lawrence is well known for producing a portrait of The Calmady Children (Emily, 1818–?1906, and Laura Anne, 1820–1894) Emily and Laura Anne were the children of Charles Calmady of Langdon Court in Devonshire. Their portrait— shown at the Royal Academy, and engraved under the title Nature—has always been one of Lawrence's most popular works. This fine example is on display in The Metropolitan Museum Of Art In New York and bears similarities to the painting we have offered for sale. His studio produced many copies of his best known works to meet demand and these were often completed by his pupils or studio assistants. In his latter years the artist struggled financially and with his health and so moved back to his family address in Greek St London from where he tried to keep up with demands for paintings. When he eventually died in 1830, there were many unfinished paintings found in his studio which were completed by his pupils and these were sold as originals. It is documented that whilst he was alive, one of his pupils completed his portrait depicting Mrs. Brandling and so there is certainly a strong possibility that our portrait has been produced from his studio under his influence and perhaps with an helping hand in the accomplished composition, for both he and his pupils engaged in finishing many of each other’s works. George Henry Harlow was also a pupil but only stayed within his workshop for a short period of 18 months and left after a dispute relating to an altered depiction of one of his well known original works. Many artists have tried to reproduce almost identical works, more so with the Calmady Children, but our example is not a copy of this famous portrait but possess all the attributes of his hand in manner and character,but is itself an original of the time the artist lived and is a rare find to be able to purchase today.