Richard Brompton

English, c.1734-1783

BiographyRichard Brompton, was an English portrait painter.

Brompton was a pupil of Benjamin Wilson. He then went to Italy, and spent some time in Rome, where he had lessons with Raphael Mengs. He was also introduced to the patronage of the Earl of Northampton, and accompanied the earl to Venice when he was appointed ambassador to the republic. In Venice, Brompton painted a conversation-piece, in which he introduced the portraits of the Duke of York and several English gentlemen then on their travels. The picture was afterwards exhibited at the rooms in Spring Gardens in 1763, at which time he returned to England, and for some years practiced portrait painting. Extravagant living brought him to the King's Bench, but he was rescued by the Empress of Russia, at whose request he went to St. Petersburg. He was appointed portrait painter to the empress, and enjoyed much employment. He died in that city in 1782.

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