Autographs volume 5

1 volume

The concluding years of Thomas Lawrence's life. The run of correspondence continues as a roll-call of the great and the good, either paying their respects to Lawrence's towering genius or demanding possession of long delayed commissions. Work associated with Lawrence's role as President of the Royal Academy crops up to a greater extent than in the previous volume. The latter part of the volume is largely taken up with papers received and collected by Archibald Keightley, executor to Thomas Lawrence. The papers suggest that Keightley was joined by Elizabeth Croft in looking through the archive. Scattered through the volume are further instances of Keightley's manuscript collecting. January 1830 brings with it around one hundred letters from various notables to Keightley. Many state that the writer will not be able to attend Lawrence's funeral. The volume ends with a small collection of poetry written by Lawrence and others who, but for Sarah Siddons, are anonymous.