Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux

Lawrence painted Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, around 1825, depicting one of the most brilliant and controversial figures of early nineteenth-century British public life. Brougham was a lawyer, politician, reformer, and polemicist who championed education for the working classes, defended Queen Caroline against George IV, and served as Lord Chancellor (1830-34). His restless energy and combative personality made him a dominant force in Parliament. Lawrence's portrait captures the fierce intelligence and volcanic temperament that made Brougham both admired and feared. Now in the National Portrait Gallery, it documents one of the architects of Victorian liberal reform.

Lawrence captures Brougham's intense, intellectual energy through a dynamic pose and piercing expression. The warm palette and fluid brushwork are restrained compared to Lawrence's more glamorous portraits, emphasizing the sitter's formidable character.