Background
Benwell was born at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire where his father was under-steward to George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough.
Benwell was born at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire where his father was under-steward to George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough.
He later taught drawing at Bath, and executed a few small oval drawings in a technique which combined watercolour and pastel. He returned to London and exhibited a classical subject, Glycaera at the Tomb of her Mother, at the Royal Academy in 1784, but died of tuberculosis the next year, and was buried in Old Saint Pancras churchyard. They included two scenes from "Auld Robin Gray".
The "Children in the Wood", engraved by William Sharp.
And A Saint Giles"s Beauty and A Saint James"s Beauty, both engraved by Bartolozzi.