Termination of the year 1829.-Sir Thomas Lawrence's state of Health. His personal appearance.-His affliction at the illness of his Sister,-A letter to Mr. Peel.-Private Cor- respondence with his Family.-A private Sketch of the last hours of Sir Thomas Lawrence.-His dining with Mr. Peel. -His last exertions on the Portrait of Mrs. Wolff, and on that of his Majesty.-Progress of his Disorder.-Efforts of Sir Henry Halford and Dr. Holland.-Fatal termination of the Illness.-The Public Sensation produced by his Death. -Eulogies to his Memory.-Report upon the post-mortem Examination of the Body.-Causes of the Death.-The THE LIFE OF SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE. CHAPTER I. Honorary distinctions bestowed upon Sir Thomas Lawrence by foreign nations.-The Papal and American governments.-Reflections upon American and European Institutions. Establishment of the American Academy of Fine Arts. Its splendid list of Honorary Members.-Sir Thomas Lawrence receives its honorary diploma.-His sense of this dignity.-American painters.-The Roman diploma-Academy of St. Luke.-The English Corporation of Painters. -Sir Thomas Lawrence's Foreign Correspondence.-Letters from Canova.-The Florentine diploma.-The Venetian diploma. Opinions respecting Sir Thomas Lawrence at Venice and Florence.-Diplomas from Bologna and Turin, -The Danish diploma.-Christian Frederick's royal sign manual.—The Austrian diploma.—The Legion of Honour.— A regal present. -Talma's political squib.-An English royal sign manual.-Foreign letters.-Canova's last correspondence. His death. His brother's communication of his decease to Sir Thomas Lawrence.-Observations upon Canova.-Letter from the Cardinal Gonsalvi. THE order of time obliges me, ere I proceed in the biography, to record the first of the pub VOL. II. B lic or national honours, bestowed upon our illustrious countryman, by foreign governments. It appears to me advantageous to the classification of subjects, the best assistant to the memory and judgment, to describe, in one chapter, the numerous and important distinctions of this nature which it was the proud and enviable fortune of this great man to receive. They commenced at this period of 1816. It is but too often rendered painfully evident to Europeans, that the Institutions of North America alone possess the enviable distinction of being free from Gothic and feudal errors, and from the abuses of barbarous ages, which have been perpetuated throughout Europe. Though America, from her stage in the progress of society, must of necessity be feeble in the productions of the fine arts, and though she is far removed from the community of arts, which exists, as a sort of domestic republic, in Europe, she was the first to appreciate the genius of Lawrence, and to offer him the only honorary distinction which it was in her power to bestow. It is true, that the diploma from the Academy of St. Luke, at Rome, preceded that of the National Academy of America, but the former emanated more from the private friendship and individual admiration of Canova, than from any vigilance to discover, and integrity to reward genius on the part of the papal government. The diploma from America proceeded from public principles, called into action by the integrity which public spirit engenders and matures. Even Canova himself was advanced in life ere some of the honours similar to those were bestowed upon him. He was sixty years of age ere he was appointed, by the Pope, Prefect of the Fine Arts, or had his name enrolled in the book of the capitol. The mandate of royalty was deemed necessary to procure Lawrence his first admission into the Academy of England; and in all cases the royal approbation is indispensable to confirm every honour which the Academy may bestow upon genius. The superb works from Lawrence's pencil were well known to the princes and nobility in all the capitals of Europe, and yet was he unrewarded by any honorary distinctions from foreign governments or academies. In America, talents find their level in an open market, and, with conduct, are the sole passports to public distinctions. The American Academy of the Fine Arts was established only in 1816, and its first exhibition was in the succeeding year. One of its primary cares was, to bestow its honorary rewards upon illustrious men, without distinction of religion, country, or political opinions, and totally irrele vant to title, rank, or interest. In the year 1817, therefore, this academy could boast among its honorary members, such illustrious names as Napoleon Bonaparte, Lucien Bonaparte, Vivant Denon, Marbois, Mr. West, Canova, and Sir Thomas Lawrence. To this list may now be added, the names of Sir M. A. Shee, Mr. Wilkie, Mr. Raeburn, and several more of our countrymen, whose works have raised them into eminence. The American diploma is short, simple, to the purpose, and characteristic of that businesslike people. It is printed in plain type, and upon very common paper, and is as follows: AMERICAN ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS. "New York, 20 day of Jan. 1818. "Be it known, that Sir Thomas Lawrence, R. A., London, has been duly chosen an Honorary Member of the American Society of Fine Arts, and, as such, is entitled to all the rights and privileges given to Honorary Members by the bye-laws of the said Academy. "In testimony whereof, the seal of the said Academy is affixed to these presents, and the same are signed by the President of the said Academy, and countersigned by the Secretary, the day and year above written. JOHN TURNBULL, President. A. ROBERTSON, Secretary." |