William Beechey

William Beechey

Sir Henry William Beechey (12 December 1753 – 28 January 1839), English portrait-painter, was born at Burford, the son of William Beechey (*1732) and Hannah Read (*c1732).

William Beechey Art

• Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn
• Harriot (Mellon), Duchess of St.-Albans
• King George III
• Miss Elizabeth Buckler
• Thomas Sandby

William Beechey Biography

He was originally meant for a conveyancer, but a strong love for painting induced him to become a pupil at the Royal Academy in 1772. Some of his smaller portraits gained him considerable reputation; he began to be employed by the nobility, and in 1793 became associate of the Royal Academy. In the same year he was made portrait-painter to Queen Charlotte. His work has been described as relatively sober.

He painted the portraits of the members of the royal family, and of nearly all the most famous or fashionable persons of the time. What is considered his finest production is a review of cavalry, a large composition in the foreground of which he introduced portraits of George III, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, surrounded by a brilliant staff on horseback. Among his portraits were those of Lord Nelson, John Kemble, and Sarah Siddons.

George III and the Prince of Wales reviewing troops was painted in 1798, and obtained for the artist the honour of knighthood, and his election as RA (member of the Academy). This painting was destroyed in the 1992 Windsor Castle fire.

William Beechey's first marriage was to Mary Ann Jones in 1772. He secondly married Ann Phyllis Jessop (*3 August 1764) in 1793 and had 18 children by her.

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