“Portrait of a British Officer” by Thomas Beach

Thomas Beach was born in Milton Abbas in 1738 and from an early age showed a love of art. In 1760 he became a pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds and about the same time enlisted as a student in the St.Martin’s Lane Academy. On leaving his master he established himself in Bath, where he gained employment and repute as a portrait painter. From Bath he sent portraits to the exhibitions of the Incorporated Society of Artists(1772-83), of which body he was a member and a warm advocate in the squabbles which arose. He first began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1785, contributing portraits yearly up to 1797. His paintings are well known in the West of England and consist chiefly of portraits. His works are well drawn, carefully painted, often in a low sober tone. The likenesses are usually excellent, without concession to flattery and easy to recognise. The present painting must rate amongst his finest works in terms of quality, use of light and its ambitious scale. Works by Beach are to be found in many important collections including the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Collection Windsor Castle and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool