!00 paintings an artist should know, British portrait painters 14

33) John Johnstone, Betty Johnstone and Miss Wedderburn, by Sir Henry Raeburn 1756-1823
Another orphan Raeburn was trained as a goldsmith. Raeburn was actually Scottish not English.
A wealthy widow who sat for her portrait married him and he was a wealthy man. He used his wealth to travel to and study the great art of Italy. Upon his return to Scotland he became a successful portrait painter. Raeburns "square" touch and broadly rendered form are reminiscent of Valesquez.

Here is Miss Eleanor Urquhart, another Raeburn just for good measure.

34) Self portrait by Joshua Reynolds 1723-1792
One of ten children, Reynolds rose through tireless work to be the most famous portrait painter in an age and place obsessed with portraits. He painted all of the important leaders, generals and royals of his time. He is remembered for a series of speeches,"The discourses of Joshua Reynolds that have influenced generations of artists since. He never married and was known for a placid disposition and a quick sense of humor. Reynolds was a founding member and president of the Royal Academy.

35) The Calmady Children by Sir Thomas Lawrence 1769-1830
Lawrence was a child prodigy and was the most successful portrait painter of his era. He became a president of the Royal Academy. Lawrence supported his parents with his portraiture and despite earning large fees for his portraiture was his whole life in debt. Lawrence was known for a number of ill fated romantic liaisons that were the talk of his day.
Lawrence's fell in love with two sisters, first with Sally Siddons' and then her sister Maria, and then returned to Sally again. Neither sister was healthy enough to live very long; Maria died in 1798, on her deathbed made her sister promised never to marry Lawrence. Sally refused to see Lawrence again. She died just a few years later. Lawrence never married.
images from artrenewal.org