William Beechey

William Beechey was a British portrait painter born on December 12, 1753, in Burford, Oxfordshire, and he passed away on January 28, 1839, in Hampstead, London. He was a prominent figure in the Neoclassical movement, known for his refined and elegant portraiture that captured the likenesses of British nobility and royalty. Beechey studied at the Royal Academy Schools and became an associate of the Royal Academy in 1793, later achieving full membership in 1798. His career was notably marked by his appointment as a court painter to King George III, which solidified his reputation and influence in the art world of his time. Among his most significant works is the portrait of King George III reviewing the troops, which exemplifies his skill in combining grandeur with a keen attention to detail. Beechey's contributions to portraiture during the late 18th and early 19th centuries helped shape the visual representation of British high society.