Thomas Sully

Thomas Sully, the 'Sir Thomas Lawrence of America,' painted over 2,300 works, including portraits of presidents and Queen Victoria.

ABOUT

Born in England in 1783 to actor parents, Thomas Sully emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, with his family at age eight. After a brief stint as a tumbler and an insurance broker's apprentice, his artistic talent was recognized, and he began painting around age 12. He received early informal instruction from Charles Fraser and studied with his brother-in-law, Jean Belzons, before establishing himself as a professional painter in 1801. Sully's career truly took off after…

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NOTABLE WORKS

Sleeping Venus 1783 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Mrs. Thomas Sully (Sarah Annis) 1802 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Madame Jerome Bonaparte (Elizabeth Patterson) 1805 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Standing Woman; Child Leaning by a Fishbowl; Weeping Putto; Mounted Soldier; Kicking Horse and Fallen Rider; Half-length Seated Figure; Rowboat (from Sketchbook) 1810 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Two Sketches of Females Looking out of a Window; Seated Female; Mother Playing with Child; Seated Male and Female Looking at a Book (from Sketchbook) 1810 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Five Nude Bathers (from Sketchbook) 1810 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art

See all of Thomas's works in Art Whisper

INFLUENCES

Influenced by

Benjamin WestNeoclassicism Gilbert StuartPortraiture Thomas LawrenceRomanticism

Influenced

Marcus Aurelius RootDaguerreotypy John NeaglePortraiture Jacob EichholtzPortraiture