The Life of William Bell
William Bell was an English painter who specialized in portraits. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, he was the son of a bookbinder. As a young adult, he may have worked as a house-painter before establishing himself as an artist by the early 1760s. He was one of the first six students admitted to the Royal Academy Schools in 1769 and won a gold medal in 1771 for his historical picture, Venus intreating Vulcan to forge the armour of Aeneas. In 1772, he also received a prize from the Society of Arts for best historical painting.
While studying in London, Bell painted for Sir John Delaval, creating a series of life-size portraits of the Delaval family for display at Seaton Delaval Hall. After approximately 1775, he moved away from the London art scene to focus on local commissions in the North East of England. He operated a studio in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he also taught drawing and restored paintings. He died in the Newcastle Infirmary in 1794.
Notable Works and Subjects
Bell's portraiture included many distinguished individuals from his region. His known works include:
- Portraits of the Delaval family, including Lady Susanna, John, Sophia, Frances, Sarah, and Elizabeth Delaval.
- A portrait of the engraver Thomas Bewick.
- The portrait of Robert Harrison, held in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
- Portraits of Joseph Austin and Eleanor Austin.
- Paintings for the St. John Masonic Lodge, such as Francis Peacock, Masonic Grand Master.
Questions & Answers
How is William Bell's career divided into periods?
A chronological account of William Bell's work is available on the artist's Chronicle page, where the artworks pass in order of creation, chapter by chapter.
In which historical period did William Bell work?
William Bell worked in the Early-Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.
Where are William Bell's artworks grouped by palette?
William Bell's works can be browsed by color palette on the artist's By Palettes page.
How can I follow William Bell's work year by year?
A timeline of William Bell's works exists: the artist's Artwork Timeline page orders the artworks by creation date.
