William Beckford
1 portrait matching these criteria:
- npg number matching '5340'
William Beckford
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1782
28 5/8 in. x 23 in. (727 mm x 584 mm)
Purchased, 1980
Primary Collection
NPG 5340
Sitter
William Beckford (1760-1844), Writer, collector and eccentric dilettante. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Artist
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist associated with 1079 portraits, Sitter associated with 28 portraits.
This Portrait
Young, rich and vain, William Beckford sat to Joshua Reynolds in February 1782, soon after his return from the Grand Tour and when he had already written his great Gothic novel, Vathek. The portrait remained in Beckford's possession until his death and before it was engraved in 1835, the background was repainted making him look much less of a dandy. This was discovered only when the portrait was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in 1980 and cleaned, revealing the swashbuckling pose and the sky. It was said to be Beckford's favourite image of himself.
Linked Publications
The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 103
Ingamells, John, Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, p. 45
Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: an illustrated guide, 2000, p. 103
Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 103
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 44
On display in Room 12 at the National Portrait Gallery
