BENNETT, William Mineard

1778 - 1858

William Mineard Bennett was baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, Exeter, Devon on 2 November 1778, son of William Bennett and his first wife Mary née Mineard, who married at St Thomas the Apostle, Exeter on 5 April 1877. Bennett was a pupil and imitator of Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) and attained a considerable reputation as a painter of portraits and miniatures, living in the society of many of the most distinguished literary men of that day, among whom his brilliant wit and versatile talents made him a great favourite. An Exeter portrait painter and miniaturist who worked in London, Paris and seems to have come to Ipswich where he painted Capt. Richard Hall Gower (1768-1833) of Ipswich and William Batley (1758-1848), Bailiff, Coroner and Town Clerk of Ipswich. Many years of his life were spent in Paris, where his talents gained him the patronage and friendship of the duke de Berry but in 1844, he returned to Exeter, where he practised his painting as a leisure pursuit. Many of his works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and continued until 1816. William was also a talented musician composing several masses for the Roman Catholic church and a linguist authoring many novels in French including 'Si j’étais Petit Papier. Chansonette' (c.1835) also the author of 'Literary Entertainment for a Winter Evening' (1856). In 1851, a 72-year-old ‘gentleman’ living at Ide, Exeter, Devon, the home of his 45-year-old brother Thomas, a banker’s clerk. William Mineard Bennett died at 2 Hill's Buildings, St Sidwell's, Exeter on 17 October 1858, aged 80, he was unmarried.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 58 Frith Street, Soho
1812 473 Portrait of a Lady
         476 Portrait of T Holloway, Esq.
         478 Portrait of B Vulliamy, Esq.
         563 Portrait of Vice Admiral Hunter - miniature
         672 Portrait of himself - miniature
1813 625 Portrait of A. Lean, Esq.
         739 Portrait of E. J. Lyon, Esq.
         751 Portrait of J. Fitzgerald, Esq.
         754 Portrait of Mrs B. Brookes
         768 Portraits of Mrs J Hollingsworth and her son
         770 Portraits of Miss and Miss F Hanbury
1815 127 Portrait of Mr Hastings
1816 170 Portrait of Lady Buller
         213 Portrait of Sir E. Buller
         214 Portrait of Admiral J. Hunter

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Works by This Artist