Frederic Lock (1786-1805) was the youngest son of William Lock of Norbury Park. Frederic was sent on a voyage for his health but died of consumption in Madeira. This drawing was probably executed just before he set out as he looks to be a youth of about eighteen. The Lock family was the centre of an artistic circle in London and at Norbury, including such figures as Samuel Johnson, the Burneys, the Angerstein family, Henry Fuseli, and French émigrés such as Madame de Stäel. Lawrence was also part of this circle and painted oils of several members of the family, including William Lock I and II, the former's wife, Charles Lock and his wife, William Lock III and William II's daughter Elizabeth, who became Lady Wallscourt (see K. Garlick, Sir Thomas Lawrence, A Complete Catalogue of the Oil Paintings, Oxford 1989, pp.226-7, nos. 499-504, and p.277, no.794). Among drawings are this example and one of William Lock II, Frederic's brother, sold in these Rooms, 17 November 1992, lot 28 (#42,000); for further examples see K. Garlick, A Catalogue of the paintings, drawings and pastels of Sir Thomas Lawrence, Walpole Society, XXXIV, 1962-4, pp.234-5.
We are grateful to Dr. Kenneth Garlick for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.