Thomas Sully - American artist

Thomas Sully (June 19, 1783 – November 5, 1872) was a well-known American (English-born) painter, frequently of portraits.
Life and career
Sully was born in Horn castle, Lincolnshire, England, to the actors Matthew and Sarah Sully. In March 1792 the Sullys and their nine children immigrated to Richmond, Virginia, where Thomas's uncle manages a theater. The boys attend school in New York City until 1794, when his mother died and he returns to Richmond. By July of that year the family was in Charleston, South Carolina. After a brief apprenticeship to an insurance broker who recognized his creative talent, at age 12 or thereabouts Sully begin painting and considered with his brother-in-law Jean Belzons (active 1794–1812), a French miniaturist, until they had a falling-out in 1799. He then returned to Richmond to learn "miniature & Device painting" from his elder brother Lawrence Sully (1769–1804). After Lawrence Sully's death, Thomas Sully married his sister-in-law, Lawrence's widow, Sarah Annis Sully and not only take on the raising of Lawrence's children but have a further nine children with Sarah himself. Among the children were Alfred Sully, Mary Chester Sully (Mrs John Neagle), Jane Cooper Sully Darley, Blanche, Rosalie Sully, and Thomas Wilcocks Sully.
Sully became a professional painter at age 18 in 1801. He studied face-painting under Gilbert Stuart in Boston for three weeks. After some time in Virginia with this brother, Sully inspired to New York, after which he moved to Philadelphia in 1806, where he resides for the remainder of his life. In 1809 he travels to London for nine months of learn under Benjamin West.
Sully's 1824 portraits of John Quincy Adams, who became President within the year, and then the Marquis de Lafayette appear to have brought him to the forefront of his day. His Adams portrait may be seen in the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Many famous Americans of the day had their portraits painted by him. In 1837-1838 he was in London to paint Queen Victoria at the demand of Philadelphia's St. George's Society. His daughter Blanche assisted him as the Queen's "stand-in", modeling the Queen's costume when she was not obtainable. One of Sully's portraits of Thomas Jefferson is own by the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society at the University of Virginia and hangs in that school's Rotunda. Another Jefferson portrait, this one head-to-toe, hangs at West Point.
Sully's own index indicate that he produced 2631 paintings from 1801, most of which are now in the United States. His style resembles that of Thomas Lawrence. Though best known as a portrait painter, Sully also made past pieces and landscapes. An example of the former is the 1819 Passage of the Delaware, now on show at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Sully died in Philadelphia on November 5, 1872, where he had spent the greater part of his long and successful career. He is buried in the Laurel Hill burial ground. His book Hints to young painters was published after his death. Sully was a great-uncle of the New Orleans-based architect, also named Thomas Sully (1855-1939).

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