William Behnes (1794-1864), Sculptor
Artist associated with 31 portraits
In 1813, William Behnes enrolled at the Royal Academy schools, intending to train as a painter. After he had received lessons in modelling from Peter Francis Chenu, however, he turned to sculpture. He was awarded a gold medal by the Society of Arts in 1819 for inventing 'an instrument for transferring points to marble'. From the 1820s to the 1840s Behnes was one of the country's most prolific and successful portrait sculptors and, in 1837, he was appointed sculptor-in-ordinary to Queen Victoria. His pupils included noted sculptors George Frederic Watts, Thomas Woolner and naturalist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins.
by William Behnes
marble bust, 1824
NPG 125
Sydney Morgan (née Owenson), Lady Morgan
by William Behnes
pen and ink
On display in the Ladies Drawing Room at Bodelwyddan Castle
NPG 1177
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
by William Behnes
marble bust, 1831
On display at Palace of Westminster, London
NPG 3917
by William Behnes
marble bust, exhibited 1844
On display in Room 24 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1504
by William Behnes
marble bust, 1849
On display in Room 22 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 168
by William Behnes
plaster cast of bust, circa 1855
On display in Room 21 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1300
by William Holl Sr, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D31784
by Thomas Bragg, after William Behnes
line engraving, March 1818
NPG D39273
by Mrs D. Turner, after William Behnes
etching, circa 1819 (circa 1819)
NPG D35653
by Mrs D. Turner, after William Behnes
etching, circa 1819 (circa 1819)
NPG D35654
by Thomas Illman, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, 1820s
NPG D8095
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Colnaghi & Co, after William Behnes
mezzotint, published 1824
NPG D37848
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Colnaghi & Co, after William Behnes
mezzotint, published 1824
NPG D37849
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Colnaghi & Co, after William Behnes
mezzotint, published 10 June 1824
NPG D14758
by Samuel William Reynolds, after William Behnes
mezzotint, published 10 June 1824
NPG D8110
by James Thomson (Thompson), after Henry Corbould, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, (circa 1829)
NPG D33563
after William Behnes
line and stipple engraving, (1834)
NPG D39278
by Richard James Lane, after William Behnes
lithograph, (1834)
NPG D21871
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