\paperw4290 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \pard\tx2745\ATXts28425\fi15\ATXbrdr0 \f1 English painter.\par
\pard\ATXts28425\fi0\ATXbrdr0 After a precocious debut as a painter of pas
tel portraits, the artist started attending courses at the Royal Academy in London in 1786, and later became a member (1792) and finally president (1820) of the institution. Very soon, due to the elegance of his approach to the composition and the liveli
ness of his execution, Lawrence became the favorite portraitist of the British aristocracy, and a worthy heir to Sir Joshua Reynolds. Between 1818 and 1819, he paid official visits to various countries in Europe, with the aim of painting the portraits of
those leaders such as the pope, sovereigns and generals who had been allies in the war against Napoleon. These paintings, which earned Lawrence the reputation of the finest portrait painter in Europe, are now on show in the Waterloo Chamber of Windsor C
astle. Yet it was in his informal portraits that the artist displayed his most convincing and authentic style; the best examples of which are \i Richard Payne Knight\i0 (Manchester) and the \i Self-Portrait\i0 of 1795 (London).
