Painting

A half-length portrait to left in captain's full-dress uniform, 1787-95. The son of Captain John Bentinck, the inventor, he was promoted captain of the 'Assistance', '50 guns, as early as 1783. He later commanded a frigate at the Battle of the Glorious First of June, 1794, and gained promotion to flag rank. Bentinck sat to Romney in October and November 1787 and June 1788.

The artist was an important portrait painter of the late 18th century, generally ranked third after Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. He was in Paris in 1764 and in 1773 moved to Italy for two years, where he became interested in history paintings in the elevated and élitist 'Grand Manner'. This developed into improvi...