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.
Vraag en antwoord
In welke perioden is de carrière van William Bell onderverdeeld?
Een chronologisch overzicht van het werk van William Bell is te vinden op de Loopbaanoverzicht pagina van de kunstenaar, waar de kunstwerken hoofdstuk voor hoofdstuk in volgorde van creatie worden gepresenteerd.
In welke historische periode werkte William Bell?
William Bell werkte in de Early Modern-periode. Deze periode plaatst het oeuvre van de kunstenaar in een historisch kader.
Waar zijn de kunstwerken van William Bell gegroepeerd op kleurpalet te vinden?
De werken van William Bell kunnen op basis van kleurpalet worden bekeken op de Op kleurpalet pagina van de kunstenaar.
Hoe kan ik het werk van William Bell chronologisch volgen?
Er bestaat een tijdlijn van de werken van William Bell: op de Chronologie kunstwerken pagina van de kunstenaar staan de kunstwerken in chronologische volgorde van creatie.
