Memoirs of the professional life of Thomas Sully dedicated to his brother artists, Philadelphia, November 1851.

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Memoirs of the professional life of Thomas Sully dedicated to his brother artists, Philadelphia, November 1851.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/261228852

This volume of Sully's memoirs covers two areas of his professional life: the techniques of his artistry and his recollections of some of the painters that he knew. In the preface to this manuscript, Sully writes that through his work as an artist, he collected hints and gained experiences that he wanted to pass on to other painters. Among the painting techniques that Sully wrote about were the most important facial features that a portrait needed to highlight, how to paint backgrounds, the usefulness of sketching and modelling in clay for the painter, and how to most effectively arrange a palette. Sully reconstructs a palette that he considered "the best I have tried" and another that he customarily used for a third portrait sitting. Reflecting his admiration for Gilbert Stuart, Sully records two of his palettes, one of which was designed specifically for painting flesh. Sully also addresses different ways in which varnishes were used and provides formulae for paints and varnishes. He even includes a color chart to show how primary colors are mixed to produce other colors. Sully used small drawings to amplify his thoughts. One illustration depicts John Trumbull's small exhibition room on Barclay St., New York City, while another relates to the use of light in portrait painting. Sully comments on painters of his and other generations and critiques their work. Artists including Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Gainsborough, Henr y Fuseli, Charles Willson Peale, Benjamin West, Joshua Reynolds, Washington Allston, Thomas Lawrence, C.R. Leslie, and J.M.W. Turner all come under Sully's scrutiny. Of West, he notes: "I need not say how much I reaped from the services of this good man; he treated me as if I had been his son." Sully also remarks on a study group in which he took part while in London and his activities with other artists everywhere. In 1873, a short edited version of this text, Hints to Young Painters and the Process of Portrait Painting, was printed under Sully's name as a posthumous publication. F. T. S. Darley, Sully's grandson, edited the volume for publication and it contains Darley's penciled-in editorial modifications.

1 v. (ca. 70 p.) : ill. (1 col.) ; 25 cm.

Winterthur Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 7155483

Winterthur Library

Related Entities

There are 12 Entities related to this resource.

Fuseli, Henry, 1741-1825

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c06zgc (person)

Henry Fuseli was a Swiss painter who spent much of his life in Britain. Many of his works deal with supernatural subject matter. His style had a considerable influence on many younger British artists, including William Blake....

Allston, Washington, 1779-1843

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Reynolds, Joshua

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Leslie, Charles Robert, 1794-1859

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Epithet: RA; of Add MS 42576 British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000270.0x00034a Anglo-American painter. From the description of ALsS : 1814-1852. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122617150 British painter. From the description of Correspondence, ca. 1829-1858. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 81331228 Epithet: RA; of Egerton MS 2075 ...

West, Benjamin, 1738-1820

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American-born artist who was a charter member of the Royal Academy. From the description of ADS, 1819 November 12 : Kings Warehouse Customs, London. (Copley Press, J S Copley Library). WorldCat record id: 16853753 American historical painter. From the description of Autograph letter signed : London, to "Sir", a gentleman with whose family his "friend and Relation Joshua Gilpin" is forming a connection in marriage, 1800 Jun. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 2705...

Peale, Charles Willson, 1741-1827

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Stuart, Gilbert, 1755-1828

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hq4202 (person)

Gainsborough, Thomas, 1727-1788

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English painter. From the description of Autograph document signed : [n.p.], 1769 Aug. 5. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 269561366 From the description of Autograph letter in third person, not signed : [n.p.], to [William] Hoare, [1773]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 269563096 From the description of Autograph letter signed : [London], to Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1782 Apr. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 269570722 English artist. From the descriptio...

Turner, J. M. W. (Joseph Mallord William), 1775-1851

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J.M.W. Turner was an English artist and member of the Royal Academy. From the description of Brighton Cricket Ground [art original] [ca. 1824?]. (Haverford College Library). WorldCat record id: 58463878 Nationality: English. From the description of Rockets and Blue Lights (Close at Hand) to Warn Steamboats of Shoal Water [electronic resource]. 1840. (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute). WorldCat record id: 222503272 British painter. Fr...

Lawrence, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1888-1935

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Thomas Edward Lawrence, archaeologist, soldier, and author, popularly known as Lawrence of Arabia, was born at Tremadoc, North Wales, on August 15, 1888, the second of five sons. His father, Thomas Robert Chapman, and his mother, Sarah Maden, assumed the name of Lawrence. The family was raised in comfort by private means. Lawrence learned to read at a very early age by observing his older brother being taught to read. At the age of four he read newspapers and books, at six he began the study ...

Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872

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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 cro...

Darley, F. T. S. (Francis Thomas Sully), 1833-1914

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