Henry Benbridge was a portrait and historical painter and a miniaturist. He was born at Philadelphia on October 20, 1743, the only child of James and Mary Benbridge. He was baptized on May 27, 1744 at Christ Church. His father James died in 1751. His mother then married Scottish born immigrant and businessman, Thomas Gordon.
Henry is believed to have studied art in Philadelphia with John Wollaston, and then moved to Europe where he studied in Italy. He spent some time in London before returning to Philadelphia in 1770. The group portrait shown here is by him. It shows his mother, stepfather, and step-and half-siblings, and is titled "The Gordon Family," painted ca. 1770. It is considered his finest. 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.
In about 1771, Henry married Esther Letitia "Hetty" Sage, a miniaturist who had studied with Charles Willson Peale. Henry and Hetty moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where a son Henry (Harry) was born in 1772. Henry set up as a portrait painter there, working there until at least 1790. Not much is known about the last decades of Benbridge's life. He lived in Norfolk, Virginia for a time around 1800. According to his Philadelphia death record, Benbridge was buried in Christ Church cemetery in Philadelphia on January 25, 1812.
[Sources include "Art in America" Vol. 6. 1917.]
The artist Henry Benbridge is shown seated in the above group painting, titled "Portrait of the Enoch Edwards Family," which he painted in 1779. Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art (online, 2015). Click on the image for more information in the caption.
Henry is believed to have studied art in Philadelphia with John Wollaston, and then moved to Europe where he studied in Italy. He spent some time in London before returning to Philadelphia in 1770. The group portrait shown here is by him. It shows his mother, stepfather, and step-and half-siblings, and is titled "The Gordon Family," painted ca. 1770. It is considered his finest. 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.
In about 1771, Henry married Esther Letitia "Hetty" Sage, a miniaturist who had studied with Charles Willson Peale. Henry and Hetty moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where a son Henry (Harry) was born in 1772. Henry set up as a portrait painter there, working there until at least 1790. Not much is known about the last decades of Benbridge's life. He lived in Norfolk, Virginia for a time around 1800. According to his Philadelphia death record, Benbridge was buried in Christ Church cemetery in Philadelphia on January 25, 1812.
[Sources include "Art in America" Vol. 6. 1917.]
The artist Henry Benbridge is shown seated in the above group painting, titled "Portrait of the Enoch Edwards Family," which he painted in 1779. Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art (online, 2015). Click on the image for more information in the caption.
Henry Benbridge was a portrait and historical painter and a miniaturist. He was born at Philadelphia on October 20, 1743, the only child of James and Mary Benbridge. He was baptized on May 27, 1744 at Christ Church. His father James died in 1751. His mother then married Scottish born immigrant and businessman, Thomas Gordon.
Henry is believed to have studied art in Philadelphia with John Wollaston, and then moved to Europe where he studied in Italy. He spent some time in London before returning to Philadelphia in 1770. The group portrait shown here is by him. It shows his mother, stepfather, and step-and half-siblings, and is titled "The Gordon Family," painted ca. 1770. It is considered his finest. 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.
In about 1771, Henry married Esther Letitia "Hetty" Sage, a miniaturist who had studied with Charles Willson Peale. Henry and Hetty moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where a son Henry (Harry) was born in 1772. Henry set up as a portrait painter there, working there until at least 1790. Not much is known about the last decades of Benbridge's life. He lived in Norfolk, Virginia for a time around 1800. According to his Philadelphia death record, Benbridge was buried in Christ Church cemetery in Philadelphia on January 25, 1812.
[Sources include "Art in America" Vol. 6. 1917.]
The artist Henry Benbridge is shown seated in the above group painting, titled "Portrait of the Enoch Edwards Family," which he painted in 1779. Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art (online, 2015). Click on the image for more information in the caption.
Henry is believed to have studied art in Philadelphia with John Wollaston, and then moved to Europe where he studied in Italy. He spent some time in London before returning to Philadelphia in 1770. The group portrait shown here is by him. It shows his mother, stepfather, and step-and half-siblings, and is titled "The Gordon Family," painted ca. 1770. It is considered his finest. 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.
In about 1771, Henry married Esther Letitia "Hetty" Sage, a miniaturist who had studied with Charles Willson Peale. Henry and Hetty moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where a son Henry (Harry) was born in 1772. Henry set up as a portrait painter there, working there until at least 1790. Not much is known about the last decades of Benbridge's life. He lived in Norfolk, Virginia for a time around 1800. According to his Philadelphia death record, Benbridge was buried in Christ Church cemetery in Philadelphia on January 25, 1812.
[Sources include "Art in America" Vol. 6. 1917.]
The artist Henry Benbridge is shown seated in the above group painting, titled "Portrait of the Enoch Edwards Family," which he painted in 1779. Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art (online, 2015). Click on the image for more information in the caption.
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
