William Henry West Betty, the 'Young Roscius' (1791-1874) as Norval in the Reverend John Home's 'Douglas' (1756)
James Northcote, RA (Plymouth 1746 – London 1831)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1805
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
765 x 610 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Petworth House and Park, West Sussex
NT 485105
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, William Henry West Betty, the 'Young Roscius' (1791-1874) as Norval in the Reverend John Home's 'Douglas' (1756) by James Northcote RA (Plymouth 1746 – London 1831), 1805. A painted oval bust-length portrait, turned three-quarters right wearing armour. The sitter was an actor, called the 'Young Roscius'. He was born in Shrewsbury and began his career at the age of 11. He played Romeo in Belfast and Hamlet and Prince Arthur at Dublin 1803; played at Cork, Waterford, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and at Covent Garden and Drury Lane, 1804; appeared on alternate nights at Drury Lane, 1804, adding Richard III and Macbeth to his Shakespearian repetoire. He last appeared as a boy actor at Bath, in 1808, when he was a fellow-commoner of Christ's College, Cambridge where he studied for two years. He returned to the stage in 1812, and finally retired in 1824.
Provenance
In the sale of Thomas Harris of Covent Garden (Robins, Henry J. and George Henry, lot 30, Jul 12 1819) 'Betty, the Young Roscius, as Norval, original'. In the collection of the 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837) by 1835.By descent to the current Lord Egremont. On loan from the Egremont Private Collection
Credit line
Petworth House, The Egremont Collection
Marks and inscriptions
The Portrait of Wm Henry West Betty in the Character of Douglas/painted by J Northcote, 1805. 436 (inscribed in large brown letters on back of canvas)
Makers and roles
James Northcote, RA (Plymouth 1746 – London 1831), artist