A rarely-seen portrait of William Beckford on his deathbed, which has only been on public display twice in the past 178 years, has been purchased by the Bath Preservation Trust.
William Beckford on his Deathbed by Willes Maddox | Image © Bath Preservation Trust
The 1844 portrait, William Beckford on his Deathbed by Willes Maddox, will go on display at Beckford’s Tower and Museum next month.
The artwork was acquired from a private UK collection via public auction at Christie’s for £13,000, thanks to support from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Art Fund, individual donations and a small amount from the museum reserves.
The profits from the sale are being used by the executors of the late owner to create a Charitable Foundation.
The portrait, which has been in the same private collection for many years, is a gilt framed oval picture of William Beckford on his deathbed, surrounded by brass and giltwood decorations that match those used on Beckford’s coffin.
It sits within a rosewood case and was made for Beckford’s daughter, Susan, Duchess of Hamilton following her father’s death in May 1844.
Beckford’s Tower is the only museum in the world dedicated to the bisexual writer, slave owner and collector William Beckford (1760-1840).
Since 1827, William Beckford’s tower has been a feature high above the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath. It was intended to house his library, art collection and be a retreat from the hubbub of Bath.
William Beckford’s family wealth was gained through the ownership of plantations and enslaved people in Jamaica.
The museum, in deciding to secure this object, says it has had to confront the issues of sourcing collections that relate to this history.
Claire Dixon, Director of Museums for Bath Preservation Trust said: “We understand that objects relating to William Beckford have a sensitive and sometimes challenging impact.
“At the Tower we are committed to confronting the history of William Beckford, the source of his wealth and providing an open, transparent and honest history, that visitors can then engage with and respond to.
“Securing objects like this help us to tell that story with authenticity and integrity, enabling audiences to connect with real and tangible artefacts that can speak to the life of William Beckford in a much stronger way than many other kinds of interpretation.”
She added: “Understanding how the money was going to be used was an important part of our decision process, when considering whether or not to bid for the portrait.
“We are also very grateful for the support of our funders, without which we could not have secured this artefact for public display.”
Julia Brettell, National Programmes Lead of the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund said: “The Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund was pleased to support the acquisition of this portrait of Beckford.
“It is a key acquisition for the Trust, which has thought carefully about its interpretation.
“Using the work both in display and in learning programmes will enable the Trust to open conversations with audiences on controversial subjects including different approaches to the death of loved ones and the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.”
Ying Tan, Senior Programmes Manager (Collections) at Art Fund added: “The acquisition of this portrait by the Bath Preservation Trust, which we are pleased to support, will enable important conversations to be had about the subject, and wider related histories, in open and honest dialogue with visitors to Beckford Tower.
“The commitment of the applicant to interpret the complexity of Beckford’s story is crucial to this process and will provide valuable learning both for the Museum but also for audiences going forward.”
Beckford’s Tower and Museum is currently undergoing a transformation as part of a large-scale capital project to repair the Tower, re-imagine the museum and restore its connection to the wider landscape.
Beckford’s Tower and Museum is working closely with advisory panel members and academic advisors, which include representatives of the black British Jamaican community.
Claire continued: “In 2022 we are installing collections and interpretation to explore some of our concepts we are considering for the new museum that is due to open in 2024.
“Securing this portrait will mean that we can evaluate audience responses to this and other artefacts, as well as the narratives we are looking to explore.
“The life of William Beckford was one of controversy and important themes such as his direct profiteering from the Transatlantic Slave Trade sit alongside his creativity as a writer and composer, as well as someone who built one of the most important collections of the time.
“We are also engaging audiences with his sexuality as a gay man and considering his life in Bath, by which time he was living in exile and experiencing isolation.”
If you want to know more about the plans for Beckford’s Tower and Museum and get involved in the consultation, you can find out more here.
Beckford’s Tower and Museum is now open for weekends through until October, having been closed for two years due to the impact of the pandemic.
It will then close again in 2023, before opening in 2024 with the relaunch of the new museum.
