Born on this day, 1769, the great portraitist of the Regency era, Thomas Lawrence. From modest beginnings, he rose to be President of the Royal Academy, painter of royalty, statesmen & high society. Self-portrait c1825, Duke of Wellington, Arthur Atherley, Henry Brougham 1/5

One of my favourite Thomas Lawrence portraits: Charles Stewart, Marquess of Londonderry in Hussars uniform (1812). This depiction of the dashing cavalry officer impressed the Prince Regent, who then hired Lawrence to paint the allied leaders for the Waterloo Chamber, Windsor. 2/5

Born OTD, Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830). His best female portraits have a seductive dazzle: bravura brushwork, glistening lips and sparkling eyes. Countess of Blessington, Elizabeth Farren, Mary Hamilton (pencil & chalk, British Museum), Lady Caroline Lamb (Bristol Museums) 3/5

A couple of Thomas Lawrence's more unusual sitters: Mirza Abu’l Hassan ambassador of the Shah of Persia (Harvard College) and Pope Pius VII (Royal Collection) 4/5

And some Thomas Lawrence pictures that aren't portraits: Homer Reciting his Poems (1790, Tate), a life drawing/crouching Venus (1789, YCBA), A Gypsy Girl (1794, RA) and drawing for 'Satan Summoning his Legions' (c. 1796, RA). 5/5