Sir Richard Westmacott

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in ink on the wooden backing: Rich^d Westmacott Junr/Oct 1792/Aetatis Suae 17/by Benezech.

This portraitback to top

The drawing was probably made in London shortly before the young Westmacott's departure for Rome to study under Canova. Benezech, born in London, had also studied in Rome as portrait and genre painter; he exhibited at the RA 1790-1 and died in London in 1794 aged 26. A modern copy of NPG 731 was made with the Gallery approval (stamped NPG) and bought into the NPG in 1968 claimed as another version by Benezech.

Physical descriptionback to top

Head and shoulders to right in a rich blue coat with high collar, white neckcloth and bow-tie; thick dark brown hair in wavy locks, dark eyes, pale complexion; grey cloud background.

Provenanceback to top

Family possession and given by the sitter's granddaughters, Miss Louisa Margaret Westmacott and Miss Eliza Westmacott 1884.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Sir Richard Westmacott