John Hodges Benwell
Encyclopedia
John Hodges Benwell was an English genre
painter.
He was born at Blenheim Palace
in Oxfordshire
where his father was under-steward to George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough
. He was a pupil of an obscure portrait painter named Sanders, who was resident in Great Russell Street
in Bloomsbury
, London, but also studied in the schools of the Royal Academy
, and gained a silver medal in 1782. He afterwards for a time taught drawing at Bath, and likewise executed a few small oval drawings in watercolours, which he combined effectively with crayons
in a manner peculiar to himself; but his works have suffered much from the ravages of time.
He returned to London
and exhibited a classical subject at the Royal Academy in 1784, but died prematurely of consumption
in 1785, and was buried in Old St. Pancras churchyard.
Several of his works are well known by engravings from them. Among these are two scenes from "Auld Robin Gray" the "Children in the Wood", engraved by William Sharp
, "A St. Giles's Beauty' and "A St. James's Beauty", engraved by Bartolozzi
.
Genre painting
Genre works, also called genre scenes or genre views, are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, and street scenes. Such representations may be realistic, imagined, or...
painter.
He was born at Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
where his father was under-steward to George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough KG, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Blandford until 1758, was a British courtier and politician...
. He was a pupil of an obscure portrait painter named Sanders, who was resident in Great Russell Street
Great Russell Street
Great Russell Street is a street in Bloomsbury, central London, England. It is the location of the main entrance of the British Museum to the north. The Congress Centre of the Trades Union Congress is located at number 28...
in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, London, but also studied in the schools of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, and gained a silver medal in 1782. He afterwards for a time taught drawing at Bath, and likewise executed a few small oval drawings in watercolours, which he combined effectively with crayons
Pastel
Pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation....
in a manner peculiar to himself; but his works have suffered much from the ravages of time.
He returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and exhibited a classical subject at the Royal Academy in 1784, but died prematurely of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1785, and was buried in Old St. Pancras churchyard.
Several of his works are well known by engravings from them. Among these are two scenes from "Auld Robin Gray" the "Children in the Wood", engraved by William Sharp
William Sharp (engraver)
William Sharp , was an English line-engraver and artist.-Life and work:Sharp was the son of a reputable gunsmith who lived at Haydon's Yard, Minories in central London...
, "A St. Giles's Beauty' and "A St. James's Beauty", engraved by Bartolozzi
Francesco Bartolozzi
Francesco Bartolozzi was an Italian engraver, whose most productive period was spent in London.He was born in Florence...
.
External links
- Engraving after Benwell (Grosvenor Prints)