William Lawranson facts for kids
William Lawranson (born around 1742, died sometime after 1783) was an English artist. He was known for painting pictures and making engravings.
About William Lawranson
William was the son of another artist, Thomas Lawranson. When he was young, in 1760 and 1761, he won awards from the Society of Arts. This was a group that supported artists. Like his father, William was also a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists. This was another important art group.
His Art and Exhibitions
William Lawranson first showed his art in public in 1762. He exhibited a portrait with the Incorporated Society. In 1763 and 1764, he sent portraits to the Free Society of Artists. But in 1766, he went back to the Incorporated Society. He continued to show his art there until 1772.
He mostly sent portraits made with crayons. For example, in 1771, he showed a portrait of the actor William Smith. Smith was dressed as a character called Iachimo. William Lawranson also made an engraving of this portrait himself. In 1769, he showed a crayon portrait of Sophia Baddeley. From 1774 to 1780, he exhibited his art at the Royal Academy.
Many of Lawranson's paintings were later made into engravings by other artists. Some of these include:
- A portrait of Ann Catley as "Euphrosyne," engraved by Robert Dunkarton.
- A portrait of Signora Giovanna Sestini, an opera singer, engraved by John Jones.
- A portrait of Benjamin West, engraved by William Pether.
- A portrait of Sir Eyre Coote, engraved by J. Walker.
- Pictures titled A Lady Haymaking, Palemon and Lavinia, Rosalind and Celia, and Cymon and Iphigenia, all engraved by John Raphael Smith.
