James Curtis

1800s

A witness in the “Delicate Investigation” into the Princess

The King commissions portraits of his daughter-in-law Caroline, the estranged wife of the Prince of Wales, and of his granddaughter Charlotte; while painting them Lawrence stays at Montagu House, the princess’s residence in Blackheath, and becomes implicated in the “delicate investigation” into Caroline’s morals. He swears an affidavit that although he had sometimes been alone with her the door was never locked or bolted, and, expertly defended by Spencer Perceval, he is exonerated.

from 1802

The studio: assistants for replicas of his portraits

To keep up with the demand for replicas of his portraits, Lawrence employs studio assistants: Samuel Lane works for him from 1802 until the master’s death, and the assistants also include William Etty and George Henry Harlow.

1803

Meeting Isabella Wolff

Isabella, wife of the Danish consul Jens Wolff, sits for her portrait and becomes one of the two women who provide Lawrence with companionship, along with his friend Elizabeth Croft; in 1810 she separates from her husband. Lawrence was famed for the time he took over his paintings: Isabella waits twelve years for her portrait to be finished.