Charlotte Lawrenson facts for kids

Charlotte Lawrenson (born August 31, 1883 – died July 26, 1965) was an Irish artist. She was known for painting portraits and large wall paintings called murals. She also created art using a printing method called lithography.

Life and Family of Charlotte Lawrenson

Charlotte Lawrenson was born Charlotte Mary Rose Thompson in Dublin, Ireland. This was on August 31, 1883. Her father, Robert Healy Thompson, was a poet and writer. He used the pen name Robert Blake.

Early Life and Education

Charlotte went to school at Loreto Convent in Omagh. She also studied at University College London. She started her art training with a famous artist, Sir William Orpen. This was at the Chelsea Art School.

Family Life

Charlotte married another artist, Edward Louis Lawrenson. He was also from Dublin. They lived in a place called Nurney, near Hadlow Down in Surrey. They had one son named Ralph. Ralph later served in the British Army.

After her husband passed away in 1940, Charlotte Lawrenson moved to East Africa. She settled in Nakuru, Kenya. She died on July 26, 1965.

Charlotte Lawrenson's Art Career

Charlotte continued her art studies at the Slade School of Fine Art. There, she won the Wilson Steer Prize. She also studied at the Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting. At this school, she won first prize for an oil portrait. She also won second prize for a drawing of a head.

Exhibiting Her Art

Charlotte showed her artwork at many important galleries. She exhibited 16 pieces at the Royal Academy between 1921 and 1945. One of these was a pencil drawing of her son, Ralph, in 1935. She also showed her art at the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers. Other places included the London Salon and the Walker Art Gallery. She also exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). She started showing her work at the RHA before she was married. In 1909, she showed a portrait of Miss Emmie Le Fanu.

Lithography and Frescoes

From the 1920s, Charlotte Lawrenson began to focus on lithography. This is a special printing technique. She learned it from Ernest Jackson. She showed her lithographs alongside her husband's work. This was at the first exhibition of the Society of Graphic Art in 1921.

Charlotte was a member of the Society of Mural Decorators and Painters in Tempera. She is thought to be the first artist to show a true fresco at the Royal Academy in 1926. A fresco is a painting done on wet plaster. It becomes part of the wall.

A famous Irish artist, Sarah Purser, suggested Charlotte for a special project. Charlotte was asked to create a fresco at the Franciscan Friary in Athlone, Ireland. She later made another fresco at the Priest's House in Uckfield, Surrey. Rev. A. Milton, who knew her, said she was "very painstaking and humble about her work."

The fresco in Athlone was believed to be the first fresco in Ireland. Charlotte even said it would last for 4000 years! However, by 1965, the fresco needed repair. It was later replaced with a mosaic when the church was updated.

Today, you can find examples of Charlotte Lawrenson's art in museums. The Brighton and Hove Museum and Art Gallery holds some of her pieces. So does the Bradford Art Gallery.