Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-24
MADE
FAMOUS BY TWO
ARTIST SULLYS
Thomas and Nephew, Rob
ert, Gained Regulations
as Historical Painters.
PROFESSION IN EARLY DAYS
WAS ONE OF HARDSHIPS
Eminent Works Were Portraits
of Queen Victoria and Pic
ture of Pocahontas.
HY VERA PALMER.

little of art today in Richmond, not |
"ithstandIng It's reputation US tho
cultural center OF the South one is
"ii t1o likely to overlook the fac;
that in tho past when the capital
city OF the Old Dominion was known
Tar and w!do az spot favored by
The gods Nho protect the aesthetic
iaste OF men, there were two painters
who walked our streets. !mmortalIzed
the features OF great men. and fought
Here their battle for recognition and
fame. Their dcscc nJants arc In Rich
iuond. and there rs a small circle
that realize what Thomas and Robert
!ully did FOR the slorincution OF
their own names and for the develop
'nent OF art in America.
Both were not natives 10 the soil
OF Virginia, but then this State has
often had foster sons who have added
generously TO her luster. and It WAS
Ia this class that the elder Sully
belonged History tells us he was
born in juno. 1854. In Horncastle,
Lincolnshire. England. and tina, he
was the child OF comedians which.
probably. accounts for his frIcndsh!?s
with stage folk. Leading 4 nomod.c
life. the parents sent the boy to his
maternal grandmother in BIrmlng-
ham. whore he lived until hia father
anh mother obtained a permanent en-
ga.ement in Edinburgh.
Years later. when the little boy,
who wRs orphaned and set not or
phaned for 10 many years returned
To England. he went straight 10 the
old lady who had cared for him so
faithfully in the days OF his infancy.
IL must have been rather n trying
experience for tho grandson. for she
remembered only the baby boy and
could not understand that the stall
wart man, then husband and father.
was her own wee charge. Bat he
had great time sketching the house
and the grounds. we are told, for each
nook and corner recalled memories
o. HE youth--the place where some
ho*ish prank took place. the spot
where pet animal was buried under
:, tree.
iiu, we must not skip over all that
interesting period when the man who
was destined to be among the worlds
pieatcst was laying the foundation
FOR the reputation which he justly
deserved. In 1872 tho father OF young
Tom Suily was persuaded By his
Ivo;herin-law. Mr.. West Il theatre
cal manager operating In Virginia
aud south Carolina. TO bring his lam
ily 10 the New World. a proposition !
never without a certain allure and |
romance. SO, with his four sons. OF |
whom Thomas was the youngest. the !
family turned westward
Family OF Artists.
Lawrence, the Oldest of the quar-
tel OF brothers. had a certain follow
Ing. as miniature painter and was |
...lgn h.-
a genius OF indisputabie gifts. The |
second boy. Matthew. followed his /
father on the stage. and the third |
up the theatcr and went to sea.
Efforts were made at first TO train
Thomas as 4 business man. but he |
had the unfortunate hab, of draw
been doing, seemingly, more impor-
tant things, until his employed COM
pla!ned not only of his waste of
time, but of the expense of supply
no rapidly ruined for all commercial /
purposes, although doing a number
OF clever sketches OF persons and
things about him
Meantime. one OF Sully's sisters had
married n French miniature painter
Monsieur Belzons, and although
really an exceeding poor painter. WAS
the lads first Instructor Life under
the brother-in-law was not unalioyed
joy. particularly on one occasion
when he was instructed to supcrin-
tend the cleaning of Bc!Zons studio.
The boy took with him to his task
his box of water colors, which his !
sister had given him, and thought
that II he worked at one end of the
room while the servant cleaned at
the other he would be doing his fun
Not so Brother Belzons. who hap
pened to make tour of inspection,
IL i
spilled were the contents of the box.
which itself was broken beyond
recognition, for the miniaturist
seems ems t to have had had al the fire Of his
and then picked up his hat, deter
mined never again to he in his power
Sully was then 1G and his parents
were dead. so he planned to so to
ing in Richmond although just
where seems to have faded with
many other interesting memories of
to go to Virginia from Charleston
and was far too proud to ask favors
Of friends. Luck smiles on some
the case of Sully. for in the harborr
he found vessel belonging In Nor
folk, commanded by a Captain LET
fngwei. The captain not only took
the youn og nn on his
him into his home until Lawrence
should send sufficient funds to get
The boy up the James River to Rich
n,ond.
When Lawrence Sully and his fam
lily moved to Norfolk In 1901. Tom
Of, course, went also, but 1t was not
long before no tired of miniature
work, saving been inspired ny the
sight of n number OF portraits to
try oUs. y picture OF Angelica Kauf-
man, still in possession of the painter
ut the time of his death, was his
first subject. and so ignorant was he
Of his materials that he ground his
pigments" In olive oil, so the records
say, instead of fax seed, and was
surprised when they would not dry.
Hard Times Came.
About this time Henry Bembridse
Was tho chief inspiration of young
Sul!y, and In tho spirit of tho true !
artist the man who had already ar