Sir William Beechey

English, 1753 - 1839

Sir William Beechey was a leading English portraitist during the golden age of British painting.

Beechey was born at Burford, Oxfordshire, on 12 December 1753, the son of William Beechey, a solicitor, and his wife Hannah Read. Both parents died when he was still quite young, and he and his siblings were brought up by his uncle Samuel, a solicitor who lived in nearby Chipping Norton.

Beechey was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools in 1772, where he is thought to have studied under Johan Zoffany. He first exhibited at the Academy in 1776.

In 1782, he moved to Norwich, where he gained several commissions, including a portrait of Sir John Wodehouse and a series of civic portraits for St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. By 1787, he had returned to London, and in 1789, he exhibited a celebrated portrait of John Douglas, Bishop of Carlisle (now in Lambeth Palace).

Beechey's style perfectly suited the conventional taste of the royal family, and in 1793, he was commissioned to paint a full-length portrait of Queen Charlotte and subsequently named as her official portrait painter. That same year, he was elected as an associate member of the Royal Academy.

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Portrait of Mrs. Lennox, afterwards Lady Ashley

Portrait of Mrs. Lennox, afterwards Lady Ashley

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton

Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton (1815-1817)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of Charlotte Earle Beechey, the artist’s daughter, as Psyche

Portrait of Charlotte Earle Beechey, the artist’s daughter, as Psyche

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Edward Miles (1752–1828)

Edward Miles (1752–1828)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

George IV (1762–1830), When Prince of Wales

George IV (1762–1830), When Prince of Wales

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury (1773-1856)

Portrait of Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury (1773-1856)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of George, 4th Earl of Cardigan, Later 1st Duke of Montagu (1712-1790)

Portrait of George, 4th Earl of Cardigan, Later 1st Duke of Montagu (1712-1790)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of Charles Marsham, 2nd Earl of Romney (1777–1845)

Portrait of Charles Marsham, 2nd Earl of Romney (1777–1845)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Young Man in Scotch Plaid

Young Man in Scotch Plaid (circa 1780)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of a British Military Officer in Red Uniform

Portrait of a British Military Officer in Red Uniform

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Self Portrait

Self Portrait (ca. 1800)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of Mary Constance

Portrait of Mary Constance (circa 1782-1787)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of a Young Girl

Portrait of a Young Girl

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of Miss Elizabeth Byrd, later Mrs. Slight

Portrait of Miss Elizabeth Byrd, later Mrs. Slight

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of Benjamin Goldsmid (c.1753-1808)

Portrait of Benjamin Goldsmid (c.1753-1808)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

The Oddie Children

The Oddie Children (1789)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

A portrait of Ellen Smith of Nottingham

A portrait of Ellen Smith of Nottingham

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of John Greenwood [junior]

Portrait of John Greenwood [junior] (circa 1795)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man (c. 1800)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Edward George Lind And His Son, Montague

Edward George Lind And His Son, Montague

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman (ca. 1805)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait Of Miss Mary Payne

Portrait Of Miss Mary Payne (1820)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait Of Charles Small Pybus

Portrait Of Charles Small Pybus (1803)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Lieutenant John Pollock (John Pocock)

Lieutenant John Pollock (John Pocock) (1807-1813)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait of a Lady, said to be Elizabeth Brudenell-Bruce

Portrait of a Lady, said to be Elizabeth Brudenell-Bruce

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait Of George Arbuthnot Of Elderslie

Portrait Of George Arbuthnot Of Elderslie (1800)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait Of Ellen Smith Of Nottingham

Portrait Of Ellen Smith Of Nottingham

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

William Creech

William Creech (1745-1815)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Lady Beechey and Her Baby

Lady Beechey and Her Baby (ca. 1800)

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

Portrait Of A Boy

Portrait Of A Boy

Sir William Beechey (English, 1753 - 1839)

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