William Henry West Betty
(1791-1874), Known as 'The Young Roscius'; actorRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 9 portraits
When he was nine years old, after seeing Sarah Siddons on the stage in Belfast, William Betty declared that he would die if he could not become an actor. He made his first stage appearance two years later in 1803. For three years Betty enjoyed enormous success as a child star, before adulthood began to reveal his limitations as an actor. He retired from the stage when in his early twenties.
William Henry West Betty ('Master Betty, The Infant Roscius, as Hamlet')
by and published by William Bond, after Henry Singleton
stipple, published 5th December 1804
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.33
by James Ward, published by Colnaghi & Co, after James Northcote
mezzotint, published 15 March 1805
NPG D18745
William Henry West Betty as Hamlet
by James Heath, after James Northcote
hand-coloured line engraving, published 1806
NPG D31739
William Henry West Betty as Hamlet
by James Heath, after James Northcote
line engraving, published 1806
NPG D31740
William Henry West Betty as Hamlet
by James Heath, after James Northcote
line engraving, published 1806
NPG D31741
William Henry West Betty as Young Norval in 'Douglas'
by James Heath, after John Opie
hand-coloured line engraving, published 1807
NPG D31737
William Henry West Betty as Young Norval in 'Douglas'
by James Heath, after John Opie
line engraving, published 1807
NPG D31738
William Henry West Betty as Alexander
probably by John Thompson, published by Clement Chapple, after Thomas Charles Wageman
stipple engraving, published 1818
NPG D38607
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