Maria Hamilton Beckford (Mrs. William Beckford)
1799
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 146 x 115 cm (57 1/2 x 45 1/4 in.) framed: 177.8 x 146.7 x 10.2 cm (70 x 57 3/4 x 4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CAB
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Andrew W. Mellon Collection
Accession Number
1947.17.23
Art Historical Context
**Maria Hamilton Beckford (Mrs. William Beckford)**, painted by Benjamin West in 1799, is a commanding oil-on-canvas portrait measuring 146 x 115 cm. This work captures the elegance of its sitter, the wife of William Beckford—a prominent English collector, writer, and builder of the extravagant Fonthill Abbey., an American-born artist who rose to fame in London, masterfully rendered her poised figure, showcasing his skill in conveying social status through refined composition and subtle expression. As a leading figure in British art, West served as President of the Royal Academy from 1792 to ...
About the Artist
Benjamin West · 1738–1820
Benjamin West, born on October 10, 1738, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, emerged as one of the most influential painters of his era despite being entirely self-taught. Growing up in a Quaker family in colonial America, West displayed prodigious talent from childhood, creating portraits and religious scenes with materials gifted by local patrons. By his late teens, he had garnered enough support to t...