Sir Thomas Lawrence

Mrs Siddons

1804

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In Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art: 1780

Free entry

Artist: Sir Thomas Lawrence 1769–1830
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 2540 x 1480 mm
frame: 2905 x 1845 x 150 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by Mrs C. FitzHugh 1843
Reference: N00188

Display caption

Sarah Siddons was the greatest tragic actress of her age. She was particularly famous for her interpretations of Shakespearian roles, in particular Lady Macbeth. Siddons retired from the stage in 1812; Lawrence painted her near the end of her career. She appears at one of her dramatic readings, with volumes of plays by Thomas Otway and Shakespeare beside her. Lawrence was the pre-eminent English portrait painter of the day. His works are marked by a fluent use of paint, and by a sense of scale and ambition which reflects his desire that portraiture be recognised as an elevated art form.

Gallery label, February 2016

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