Background

Henry Benbridge was born on May 20, 1744, in Philadelphia, the only child of James and Mary (Clark) Benbridge. When he was seven years old, his mother, who had been left a widow, was married to Thomas Gordon, a wealthy Scotchman.

Education

When Henry was seven years old, his mother, who had been left a widow, was married to Thomas Gordon, a wealthy Scotchman. The boy's artistic talent was encouraged. He made for his stepfather's drawing-room decorative designs which were much admired. When he was fourteen years old he may have watched John Wollaston paint Mr. Gordon's portrait. It was plausibly urged that young Benbridge had instruction from Wollaston, since his earliest known portrait, that of his half-sister Rebecca Gordon. In his twenty-first year Benbridge was sent to Italy where he studied with Batoni and Raphael Mengs.

Career

In 1769, on order from James Boswell, biographer of Dr. Samuel Johnson, Benbridge made in Corsica a portrait of Pascal Paoli which he took to London. It was exhibited (1769) at the Free Society of Artists, and from it three mezzotints were scraped and published with the artist's name signed "Benbridge. " Impelled, apparently, by a longing to rejoin his family, he left England in 1770, bearing from West the following note of recommendation to Francis Hopkinson: "By Mr. Benbridge you will receive these few lines. You will find him an Ingenous artist and an agreeable Companion. His merit in the art must procure him great incouragement and much esteem. I deare say it will give you great pleasure to have an ingenous artist resident amongst you. "

Henry was admitted January 18, 1771, to membership in the American Philosophical Society, of which Franklin was a founder. He painted the large portrait of the Gordon family, with six figures, one of his masterpieces. Suffering, however, from asthma, he sought a more congenial climate and removed to Charleston where he succeeded Jeremiah Theus as the popular portrait painter of South Carolina. He there made many likenesses of southern men and women, several of which have been popularly attributed to John Singleton Copley, an artist who never painted in the South and who left America in 1774.

About 1800 Benbridge settled at Norfolk, Virginia, whence he made frequent visits to his native city. At Norfolk he gave to Thomas Sully his first lessons in oil painting. He had previously instructed Thomas Coram, of Charleston. Benbridge's health is said by Hart to have declined in middle age. Dunlap's assertion that his last years were passed "in obscurity and poverty" has been disputed.

As a technician Benbridge drew well and painted solidly, exhibiting many characteristics of the late Italian masters. His paintings were notably good in respect of their black-and-white values and some of his miniatures are exquisite. His Italianate mode was much appreciated in the Middle and Southern states during his lifetime.

Achievements

• Henry Benbridge was an outstanding portrait and historical painter and a miniaturist. His finest work was "The Gordon Family" painted in 1770. The complicated composition, showing the Gordons interlocked through a web of poses, gestures, and glances, was more sophisticated than any other group portrait executed in Philadelphia at the time.

Works

More photos

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  • Art Oyster Henry Benbridge Thomas Middleton of Crowfield and His Daughter Mary - 16.05" x 20.05" Premium Canvas Print with Gold Frame

    (16.05" x 20.05" Henry Benbridge Thomas Middleton of Crowf...)

  • Art Oyster Henry Benbridge Mrs. William Allston Jr (Rachel Moore) - 16.05" x 20.05" Premium Canvas Print with Gold Frame

    (16.05" x 20.05" Henry Benbridge Mrs. William Allston Jr (...)

  • Art Oyster Henry Benbridge Rebecca Gordon - 18.05" x 24.05" Premium Canvas Print with Gold Frame

    (18.05" x 24.05" Henry Benbridge Rebecca Gordon framed pre...)

  • Art Oyster Henry Benbridge Captain Gordon - 20.05" x 25.05" Premium Canvas Print with Gold Frame

    (20.05" x 25.05" Henry Benbridge Captain Gordon framed pre...)

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Membership

Henry Benbridge was a member of the American Philosophical Society.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• Thomas Sully describes Benbridge's master as "a portly man of good address - gentlemanly in his deportment. "
  
  Charles Fraser said that "his shadows were dark and opaque and more suitable to the historical style. "
  
  Hart said "Benbridge was impregnated by the brownish sameness of Batoni's palette and his shadows were too opaque, and although later he was somewhat emancipated from these errors, all his work belongs to the late Italian school. "

Interests

• Artists

  Like other young Americans Benbridge was encouraged by Benjamin West.

Connections

Henry Benbridge was married to Hetty Sage.

Father:

James Benbridge

Mother:

Mary (Clark) Benbridge

Wife:

Hetty (Sage) Benbridge

Son:

Harry Benbridge

References

• Henry Benbridge (1743-1812): American Portrait Painter
• Henry Benbridge: Charleston Portrait Painter (1743-1812)