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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.

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John Stafford Smith, by Thomas Illman, published by  T. Williams, after  William Behnes - NPG D14084

John Stafford Smith

by Thomas Illman, published by T. Williams, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, circa 1775-1800
NPG D14084

James Bindley, by William Holl Sr, after  William Behnes - NPG D31784

James Bindley

by William Holl Sr, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D31784

John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon, by William Holl Sr, published by  Robert Cribb & Son, after  William Behnes - NPG D36133

John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon

by William Holl Sr, published by Robert Cribb & Son, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, published 1 April 1818
NPG D36133

John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon, by William Holl Sr, published by  Robert Cribb & Son, after  William Behnes - NPG D36134

John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon

by William Holl Sr, published by Robert Cribb & Son, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, published 1 April 1818
NPG D36134

William Upcott, by Thomas Bragg, after  William Behnes - NPG D39273

William Upcott

by Thomas Bragg, after William Behnes
line engraving, March 1818
NPG D39273

James Heath, by Mrs D. Turner, after  William Behnes - NPG D35653

James Heath

by Mrs D. Turner, after William Behnes
etching, circa 1819 (circa 1819)
NPG D35653

James Heath, by Mrs D. Turner, after  William Behnes - NPG D35654

James Heath

by Mrs D. Turner, after William Behnes
etching, circa 1819 (circa 1819)
NPG D35654

John Stafford Smith, by Thomas Illman, after  William Behnes - NPG D8095

John Stafford Smith

by Thomas Illman, after William Behnes
stipple engraving, 1820s
NPG D8095

Samuel Webbe the Elder, by William Skelton, published by  James Asperne, after  William Behnes - NPG D14848

Samuel Webbe the Elder

by William Skelton, published by James Asperne, after William Behnes
line engraving, published 1 February 1820
NPG D14848

Charles Warren, by Samuel William Reynolds, published by  Colnaghi & Co, after  William Behnes - NPG D37848

Charles Warren

by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Colnaghi & Co, after William Behnes
mezzotint, published 1824
NPG D37848

Charles Warren, by Samuel William Reynolds, published by  Colnaghi & Co, after  William Behnes - NPG D37849

Charles Warren

by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Colnaghi & Co, after William Behnes
mezzotint, published 1824
NPG D37849

Charles Warren, by Samuel William Reynolds, published by  Colnaghi & Co, after  William Behnes - NPG D14758

Charles Warren

by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Colnaghi & Co, after William Behnes
mezzotint, published 10 June 1824
NPG D14758

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Catherine Kennedy

23 July 2015, 09:54

Interestingly, Mr Behnes appears to be responsible for two watercolour portraits of relatives of mine. Both were were painted in 1821 as indicated by the signature on the lower right of each portrait. They are charming paintings of two interesting looking people - how he came to do these portraits, I have no idea. I'd be happy to send photographs of the paintings if you were interested.