This article's
lead sectionmay be too short to adequately
summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to
provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(July 2019)
Thomas B. Lawson
Born
13 January 1807
Died
1888 (aged 80–81)
Thomas Bayley Lawson (January 13, 1807 – 1888) was an American artist and well-known portrait painter. Lawson was also the founder and first president of the Lowell Art Association and
Whistler House Museum of Art.
Early life and education
Thomas was born in
Newburyport, Massachusetts on January 13, 1807 to father William Lawson and mother Frances Lawson. He worked his way up in the dry goods industry, first as a clerk, then up to having his own store at the age of 21. Also having a passion for painting, he began to teach himself the art by copying famous works of other artists. By his 23rd birthday, he was accepted to the
National Academy of Design in New York City where he trained for a half year in the art of drawing, and then went on to
Philadelphia in the Spring of 1832 for another six months. After a year of formal training, Thomas returned to Newburyport to open his own studio, where he remained as a portrait painter for the next decade.[1]
On December 17, 1838 he married Catherine, daughter of Nathan Follansbee of Newburyport.
Lowell years
In 1842, Thomas Lawson relocated his family to
Lowell, Massachusetts, where he quickly became one of the prominent
portrait painters. He painted many social elites, such as; John Avery, George Brownell, Jane A Lock, Judge John Look, Rev. Miles,
John Nesmith.
In 1844, he was commissioned to travel to Washington, D.C. and paint
Daniel Webster who was acting
Secretary of State at the time. Secretary Webster sat a dozen times for Thomas to complete the work, but it was well worth the effort. Thomas was commissioned to replicate the painting over twenty times, and according to Fredrick W. Colburn, Daniel Webster complimented the painting for its uncanny likeness by saying; "That is the face I shave."
During the
American Civil War, Lawson shifted his talent to painting more
still lives, especially grapes and fruits. All in all, he painted some 30 still lives.
In 1878, Lawson was instrumental in creating Lowell Art Association, as founder and first president, which is the organization that is responsible for the preservation of the birthplace of
James Whistler and the creation of the
Whistler House Museum of Art.
Having not forgotten his roots, Thomas also donated to the improvement and development of the Newburyport Public Library. In 1883 he donated one of his
Daniel Webster portraits, and in 1884 he donated the portrait of
Caleb Cushing.[2]
Thomas Lawson died June 4, 1888, at the age of 81. His son, Walter U. Lawson later married Elizabeth Lennon of
New York City, on April 25, 1900. His oldest daughter, Frances Ellen Lawson first married Nicholas Biddle Uhler of
Philadelphia, and later Frank Skinner of
Woodbury, New Jersey. His Youngest daughter, Lilla Lawson married Fredrick Grant of
Boston.
