TOPICS OF THE DAY.
DEATH OF SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE.
WE little expected,to be called to the melancholy duty of commencing this branch of our weekly labours with an account of the death of the President of the Royal Academy. Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE expired, at his house in Russell Square, on Thursday night, a little before ten o'clock. He had dined with Mr. PEEL on Saturday; but feeling unwell, retired early. From Sunday till Tuesday, the malady seemed alternately to increase and remit. On Wednesday, symptoms of inflammation in the bowels appeared. Up to the period of this his last illness, he had enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health, and was remarkably hale iri look and habit. We are indebted to a friend for the following Particulars of the short illness which terminated so fatally. "Sir THOMAS had felt unwell since Saturday ; but he continued painting as usual till Wednesday. evening. On that night he felt very ill, and sent for two physicians, Dr. HOLLAND and Sir HENRY HAL*ORD : they put him to bed, and administered medicines. He continued in pain the whole of the next day, but not so much as is generally the ease in disorders of the bowels. He talked upon serious subjects to a lady, a relative, who was staying with him ; but he did not seem Conscieus of his danger, nor was there any appearance of approaching dissolution, for the lady had left the room for a short time, leaving his confidential servant with his master. She was alarmed by a Shriek from the man, and on entering saw Sir TmmiAs dead in the arms °this Servant. His dissolution had almost immediately sueseeded the operation of the medicines. Sir Thomas was in his fiftyninth year. He leaves behind him a sister, a brother, and two nieces. None of his near relatives were in town. Several eminent sculptors applied for permission to take a cast of his features ; but Mr. BAILY, R.A., who was a personal friend 'of the deceased, alone was allowed the mournful satisfaction of perpetuating the last impression of the features of departed genius. For the last thirty years, Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE enjoyed the highest reputation as a portrait-painter. In early life, he was involved in great difficulties ; and many remember his painting heads at the price of three guineas each, when he lived in Soho Square. The grace and elegance of his female portraits were even then remarkable ; and his present Majesty, when Prince of WALES, having seen the paintings by Mr. LAWRENCE of several ladies whom he knew, was struck with the beautiful fidelity of the likenesses, and gave the artist some commissions. This at once Stamped his reputation, and laid the foundation of his fortune. Mr. LAWRENCE'S gentlemanly manners and ourteous address raised him also to a share of the Prince's personal esteem ; and he continued to receive frequent marks of the Royal favour, until his elevation to the chair of the Academy, vacant by the death of Mr. WEsr, crowned him with the highest honours of art. His fame has from that time continued to increase ; and the number and rank or his sitters was a perpetual homage of genius, talent, and wealth, to his transcendent skill as a painter. The characteristics of his style were, brilliancy of colour, and a delicate mode of conveying a faithful resemblance, with an elegant contour. This perception of beauty and grace was combined With a strong sense of individuality of character; and the eye of the master was obeyed by the hand of taste, accomplished in all the refinements of art that practised skill could render available. His female portraits, for womanly sweetness and the charm of natural beauty and loveliness, heightened by grace and elegance, were unapproached by any living artist; and they surpassed, in richness of colour, fleshiness, and accurate representation of nature, even the female portraits of VANDYKE himself. He has left a name immortalized by his works. It may be interesting to know, that he was employed on a splendid portrait of the King in his robes, and worked upon it on the Wednesday preceding his death. He had touched no drawing since the beautiful lithographic drawing of Miss FANNY KEMBLE, by Mr. LANE, which we noticed in our last number. In the progress of this drawing he tool exceeding interest, and Mr. LANE worked upon it for several days at Sir THOMAS'S house and under his eye. Sir THOMAS added frequent touches, and was delighted with the process. This beautiful print may therefore be considered as affording a specimen of the touch of the master hand upon a material hitherto strange to him. Had he lived, the world would in all probability have been delighted with the appearance of a drawing on stone entirely of his own production. As it is, the present print will become additionally valuable from this circumstance.
Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE was afosterer of rising talent, where he approved of its direction in a young artist. As a friend, he was generous And munificent In looking round the circle of genius in the Royal Academy, for a :successor, there appears no one more worthy of the Presidentship than :Mr. WILKIE. HIS fame has stood the test of many years of compe'fition and criticism and he is of long standing in the Academy. His latter productions have evinced not only a taste for, but a power in the delineation of historical subjects; and in portrait-painting, the 'branch of art most assiduously cultivated in England, Mr. Wilariz can bear comparison with PHILLIPS and even JACKSON. Messrs. ETTY -and UNDUE& are as yet young, while most of the Academicians are veterans in years as well as in art. Mr. WirarE's weak state of health would seem almost the only bar to his election. But wherever the choice may fall, we trust the Academy will bear in mind that the eyes of the nation are upon them; and that in the exercise of their difz ficult and delicate but important duty, personal feeling is to bend to the award ofjndgment on the claims of merit.'
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