Jos. Farington, to Thomas Lawrence, Rome

RA Collection: Archive

Reference code

LAW/3/26

Title

Jos. Farington, to Thomas Lawrence, Rome

Date

6 Apr 1819

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Content Description

Providing Lawrence with a news digest; the marriage of Lord Stewart and Lady Emily Vane Tempest; the impending marriage of Robert Smirke; Mr. West has over exerted himself in trying to get a picture finished for the exhibition; Carlisle has pronouced Owen as incurable, but the artist has finished a fine portrait of the Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch; he provides his own opinion on Harlow and his death; the Prince Regent has given casts of the Niobe to the Academy, through Mr. Long, who appears to be minister of the arts; Flaxman is executing a commemorative medal; Hilton has been ellected to the Academy, just ahead of Collins; Sir John Leicester has opened his gallery, Mr. Fawkes has opened his house to show Turner drawings; Hayter has indeed been spoiled by Rome, the British Institution was not memorable; Calcott has finished a fine painting for Lord Gray, Thomson reckons it his best; he is not surprised by Dawe's behaviour, he thinks him now in Russia; at the Club, Westmacott's "new chariot" is helpful for others who live in his direction; he gives Jackson's view of the [Academy] exhibition, mentioning Owen, Beechey, Callcott, Turner, Shee, Phillips, Lane, Constable (Jackson rates this painting his best), Hilton, Bone and Howard; Rogers has published a poem that has done his reputation no good; Nollekens has had a paralytic attack.