Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872

Artist Thomas Sully was born in London, although his actor parents soon emigrated to the United States. A trip back to England to study painting expanded his horizons, and upon his return to the United States he developed a reputation as a first rate painter. He specialized in portraits, especially portraits of women, and painted full-length portraits of many public and private figures. He is perhaps most closely associated with his portrait of Queen Victoria and for his painting, Washington crossing the Delaware.

Thomas Sully was an American artist.

English-born American painter.

Portrait painter; Philadelphia, Pa.

English-born painter, moved to United States in 1792 and finally settled in Philadelphia; long, successful career as history and portrait painter.

Thomas Sully was a portrait, miniature, and figure painter. He was born on June 19, 1783 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, the fourth child of Matthew and Sarah Chester, who were both actors. In 1792, the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Charleston, S.C. Sully began his professional life in the office of an insurance broker. Although he and his employer soon realized his aptitude was for artistic endeavors, the time spent in business served Sully well as he was astute in his later financial affairs. Next, he was placed under the tutelage of Jean Belzons, and in September of 1799, he joined an older brother, Lawrence Sully, a miniature and device painter, in Richmond, Va. In 1801, he began his independent career in Norfolk, Va. Sully married his sister-in-law in 1805, after the death of his brother, and they moved to New York City. Two years later he moved on to Hartford, Ct. and Boston, Ma., but in 1808 settled permanently in Philadelphia, Pa.

From 1809 to 1810, Sully was in England receiving instruction from Benjamin West and Sir Thomas Lawrence. Upon his return and the subsequent deaths of Charles Willson Peale and Gilbert Stuart, he became the most prominent portrait painter in the United States. He knew most, if not all, the leading artists of the day, both in America and abroad. In 1837, the Society of Sons of St. George commissioned Sully to paint a portrait of Queen Victoria. He traveled to England with his daughter, Blanche, and returned in 1838, having done many portraits. After returning to Philadelphia, Sully averaged 35-40 portraits a year for the remainder of his life and made occasional professional visits to Baltimore, Boston, Washington, D.C., Charleston, Providence, and Richmond. Among his subjects were Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Andrew Jackson, King Charles, Benjamin Rush, and Washington Irving. Sully died in Philadelphia on November 5, 1872. Of his nine children, six survived infancy and all were either amateur or professional artists, while one of his step-daughters married the portrait painter, John Neagle.

Thomas Sully was a portrait, miniature, and figure painter. He was born on June 19, 1783 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, the fourth child of Matthew and Sarah Chester, who were both actors. In 1792, the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Charleston, S.C. Sully began his professional life in the office of an insurance broker. Although he and his employer soon realized his aptitude was for artistic endeavors, the time spent in business served Sully well as he was astute in his later financial affairs. Next, he was placed under the tutelage of Jean Belzons, and in September of 1799, he joined an older brother, Lawrence Sully, a miniature and device painter, in Richmond, Va. In 1801, he began his independent career in Norfolk, Va. Sully married his sister-in-law in 1805, after the death of his brother, and they moved to New York City. Two years later he moved on to Hartford, Ct. and Boston, Ma., but in 1808 settled permanently in Philadelphia, Pa.

From 1809 to 1810, Sully was in England receiving instruction from Benjamin West and Sir Thomas Lawrence. Upon his return and the subsequent deaths of Charles Willson Peale and Gilbert Stuart, he became the most prominent portrait painter in the United States. He knew most, if not all, the leading artists of the day, both in America and abroad. In 1837, the Society of Sons of St. George commissioned Sully to paint a portrait of Queen Victoria. He traveled to England with his daughter, Blanche, and returned in 1838, having done many portraits. After returning to Philadelphia, Sully averaged 35-40 portraits a year for the remainder of his life and made occasional professional visits to Baltimore, Boston, Washington, D.C., Charleston, Providence, and Richmond. Among his subjects were Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Andrew Jackson, King Charles, Benjamin Rush, and Washington Irving. Sully died in Philadelphia on November 5, 1872. Of his nine children, six survived infancy and all were either amateur or professional artists, while one of his step-daughters married the portrait painter, John Neagle.

Sully's daughter, Blanche, was born in Philadelphia on August 13, 1814. She was her father's companion on several painting trips, including his trip to England to paint Queen Victoria. She was also with him in Charleston in in 1841 and made some sketches of scenery. An amateur painter and sketcher, she spent most of her life in Philadelphia and died on April 30, 1898.

Thomas Sully was a portrait, miniature, and figure painter. He was born on June 19, 1783 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, the fourth child of Matthew and Sarah Chester, who were both actors. In 1792, the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Charleston, S.C. Sully began his professional life in the office of an insurance broker. Although he and his employer soon realized his aptitude was for artistic endeavors, the time spent in business served Sully well as he was astute in his later financial affairs. Next, he was placed under the tutelage of Jean Belzons, and in September of 1799, he joined an older brother, Lawrence Sully, a miniature and device painter, in Richmond, Va. In 1801, he began his independent career in Norfolk, Va. Sully married his sister-in-law in 1805, after the death of his brother, and they moved to New York City. Two years later he moved on to Hartford, Ct. and Boston, Ma., but in 1808 settled permanently in Philadelphia, Pa.

From 1809 to 1810, Sully was in England receiving instruction from Benjamin West and Sir Thomas Lawrence. Upon his return and the subsequent deaths of Charles Willson Peale and Gilbert Stuart, he became the most prominent portrait painter in the United States. He knew most, if not all, the leading artists of the day, both in America and abroad. In 1837, the Society of Sons of St. George commissioned Sully to paint a portrait of Queen Victoria. He traveled to England with his daughter, Blanche, and returned in 1838, having done many portraits. After returning to Philadelphia, Sully averaged 35-40 portraits a year for the remainder of his life and made occasional professional visits to Baltimore, Boston, Washington, D.C., Charleston, Providence, and Richmond. Among his subjects were Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Andrew Jackson, King Charles, Benjamin Rush, and Washington Irving. Sully died in Philadelphia on November 5, 1872. Of his nine children, six survived infancy and all were either amateur or professional artists, while one of his step-daughters married the portrait painter, John Neagle.