Thomas Lawrence: The Painter of Regency Grace Born in Bristol in 1769, Thomas Lawrence’s journey from a humble upbringing to becoming the most fashionable portrait painter in Europe is a testament to his prodigious talent and astute understanding of society. His early life, marked by familial upheaval and a move to Devizes followed by Bath, instilled within him a keen observational eye – an essential skill for capturing the nuances of character and the fleeting expressions that defined the Regency era. The Bear Hotel in Devizes, where his father managed the inn, provided a formative environ…