the collector's folio

Benjamin Haydon Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Benjamin Haydon our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Benjamin Haydon · 1786 – 1846

Marcus Curtius (1843) by Benjamin Haydon

1843 · National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne · original 76.5 x 63.5cm

This dramatic Romantic painting by Benjamin Haydon shows a hero plunging into an abyss. Discover the power of this historical masterpiece today.

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #1: Marcus Curtius

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$29164 × 77 cm Commission at original size

Wordsworth on Helvellyn – Benjamin Haydon

1842 · National Portrait Gallery, London · original 124 x 99 cm

A profound portrait of Romantic solitude featuring William Wordsworth amidst the rugged grandeur of Helvellyn by Benjamin Robert Haydon, inviting you to bring this masterpiece of 19th-century history into your collection.

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #2: Wordsworth on Helvellyn

Art Movement: Romanticism

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$50799 × 124 cm Commission at original size

Christ Blessing the Little Children (1837) by Benjamin Haydon

1837 · Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool · original 3250 x 2890 cm

Experience the grandeur of Benjamin Robert Haydon’s "Christ Blessing The Little Children," a monumental neoclassical masterpiece depicting Jesus Christ's compassionate blessing of children – a poignant symbol of faith and innocence.

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #3: Christ Blessing the Little Children

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17734 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Benjamin Haydon, Gentleman with a Horse (1844)

1844 · original 76.2 x 63.2cm

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #4: Gentleman with a Horse

Color Palette: Pastels

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$29076 × 63 cm Commission at original size

Wordsworth On Helvellyn, Benjamin Haydon

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #5: Wordsworth On Helvellyn

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Unexpected Visitor

Explore 'Unexpected Visitor' by Benjamin Robert Haydon – a dramatic Neoclassical/Romantic painting of betrayal & wealth. Discover its rich details, symbolism, and historical context.

Art Movement: Neoclassicism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait Of A Man, Benjamin Haydon

Admire Benjamin Robert Haydon’s ‘Portrait of a Man,’ a dramatic Romantic painting featuring rich tones & intense gaze. Explore classical style, impasto texture & historical significance.

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #7: Portrait Of A Man

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

A Sicilian Ass

Explore Benjamin Haydon’s ‘A Sicilian Ass,’ a realistic oil painting of a donkey in academic realism. Discover its muted tones, impasto texture & rural charm – a nostalgic glimpse into 18th-century life.

Art Movement: Academic Realism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Napoleon Bonaparte

National Portrait Gallery, London

Witness Napoleon Bonaparte’s solitary contemplation in Haydon’s dramatic Romantic painting. Explore its powerful composition, impasto texture & evocative symbolism.

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #9: Napoleon Bonaparte

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Thomas Alcock

Explore Benjamin Robert Haydon’s portrait of Thomas Alcock – a neoclassical masterpiece showcasing dignified realism & subtle romanticism. Oil on canvas, circa 1800s.

Art Movement: Neoclassicism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Christ Blessing The Little Children

Explore Benjamin Robert Haydon’s "Christ Blessing The Little Children," a grand neoclassical oil painting of biblical significance. Admire its dramatic lighting & rich detail!

Art Movement: Neoclassicism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$40234 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Self Portrait As The Spirit Of The Vine

Explore Benjamin Robert Haydon’s ‘Self Portrait As The Spirit Of The Vine,’ a Romantic oil painting brimming with floral beauty & dramatic lighting. A captivating portrait of femininity.

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Mary, Queen Of Scots When An Infant

Explore Benjamin Haydon’s dramatic ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’ – a Romantic masterpiece depicting the Adoration of the Magi. Discover its opulent style & historical significance.

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$30236 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Punch or May Day – Benjamin Haydon

Tate Britain, London · original 150 x 185 cm

Experience the vibrant energy of May Day London with Benjamin Robert Haydon's lively historical scene; discover this masterpiece of early 19th-century British art today.

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #14: Punch or May Day

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$955185 × 150 cm Commission at original size

The Raising Of Lazarus

Color Palette: Monochrome

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Hawkes, Benjamin Haydon

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #16: Hawkes

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Bartholomew Fair, Benjamin Haydon

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #17: Bartholomew Fair

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Wordsworth On Helvellyn

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Curtius Leaping Into The Gulf

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled by Benjamin Haydon

National Portrait Gallery, London

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #20: Untitled

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Chairing The Member -

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

The Agony In The Garden

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Sketch For 'the Maid Of Saragossa'

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17741 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

The Maid Of Saragossa

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17739 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Study Of A Man In Armour On Horseback by Benjamin Haydon

View the most popular artwork of Benjamin Haydon ranked #25: Study Of A Man In Armour On Horseback

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 50 artworks by Benjamin Haydon
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Benjamin Haydon

1786 – 1846

Quick facts

Creative periodsmature period
Lifespan60 years
Copyright statusPublic domain
Also known asBenjamin Robert Haydon, Mr. Haydon, Hayden, Haydon, B.R. Haydon
NationalityUnited Kingdom
Top-ranked workMarcus Curtius
Top 3 worksMarcus Curtius, Wordsworth on Helvellyn, Christ Blessing the Little Children
Movementsromanticism, neoclassicism

Biography

A Life Immersed in History and Drama

Benjamin Robert Haydon, a name perhaps less instantly recognizable than his Romantic contemporaries, nevertheless occupies a fascinating and poignant position within 19th-century British art. Born in Plymouth in 1786, the son of a printer and publisher, Haydon’s life was one of passionate dedication to historical painting, coupled with relentless financial struggle and ultimately, tragic despair. From an early age, he displayed a remarkable aptitude for study, nurtured by his mother and fueled by a burgeoning fascination with anatomy sparked by the illustrations of Albinus. This anatomical precision would become a hallmark of his work, grounding his dramatic compositions in meticulous detail. His formal education at Plymouth Grammar School and later Plympton Grammar School provided a solid foundation, but it was his move to London in 1804 and subsequent entry into the Royal Academy Schools that truly set him on the path toward becoming a history painter – a genre he championed with unwavering conviction.

The Pursuit of Grand Historical Visions

Haydon’s artistic ambition centered firmly on grand historical narratives, though his portfolio also included portraits and contemporary scenes. He debuted at the Royal Academy in 1807 with “The Repose in Egypt,” a work that immediately garnered attention and secured early patronage from Thomas Hope. However, it was his subsequent painting, "Dentatus" (1809), that ignited both acclaim and controversy. The piece, depicting a Roman soldier refusing to surrender his arms, was deemed too politically charged by the Academy’s committee and relegated to a less prominent display location – an act that fueled Haydon's lifelong distrust of the institution. His style evolved as a compelling blend of Neoclassical rigor and Romantic fervor. He embraced dramatic compositions, often employing bold lighting and dynamic poses to convey emotional intensity. He wasn’t merely illustrating history; he was striving to *animate* it, imbuing his canvases with moral weight and civic virtue. Works like “Christ's Entry into Jerusalem,” a monumental canvas teeming with figures – including recognizable portraits of contemporaries such as Wordsworth, Hazlitt, and Keats – exemplify this approach. “The Judgment of Solomon” and “Resurrection of Lazarus” further demonstrate his skill in depicting pivotal moments with both grandeur and psychological depth. Even his portraiture, like that of Thomas Alcock, reveals a neoclassical sensibility tempered by a Romantic sensitivity to character.

A Tumultuous Path Marked by Financial Strain

Despite critical recognition, Haydon’s career was perpetually overshadowed by financial difficulties. His father ceased providing support in 1810, forcing him to rely solely on the income from his art – a precarious existence given the scale and ambition of his projects. Disputes with patrons, notably Lord Mulgrave and Richard Payne Knight, further exacerbated his problems. He possessed a regrettable tendency toward tactless dealings, alienating potential benefactors and hindering his commercial success. The sheer size of his preferred canvases also contributed to the strain; large-scale historical paintings were expensive to produce and difficult to sell in sufficient quantities to sustain him. Consequently, Haydon faced repeated imprisonment for debt – in 1821 and again in 1827 – experiences that deeply scarred him and fueled a growing sense of frustration and resentment. He was a man driven by artistic vision but perpetually hampered by practical realities.

Legacy and the Echoes of a Passionate Voice

Though his life ended tragically, Benjamin Robert Haydon left behind a significant legacy. He was a fervent advocate for historical painting at a time when its popularity was waning, believing it held the power to inspire moral reflection and cultivate civic responsibility. His extensive diaries, published posthumously, offer invaluable insights into the artistic milieu of his era – a candid and often scathing account of the personalities, politics, and challenges faced by artists in 19th-century England. The influence of the “Elgin Marbles” on his work is particularly noteworthy; he meticulously studied their anatomical precision, incorporating that knowledge into his own depictions of the human form. He was a dedicated teacher as well, passing on his knowledge to pupils like Charles Lock Eastlake. While often overlooked today, Haydon’s commitment to depicting significant historical events with dramatic intensity and emotional resonance places him firmly within the Romantic tradition. His paintings remain powerful testaments to an era captivated by history, drama, and the complexities of human emotion. His life serves as a cautionary tale – a reminder that artistic genius does not always equate to financial security or critical acclaim – but also as an inspiration for those who dare to pursue their passions with unwavering dedication, even in the face of adversity.

A Final Descent

The culmination of years of struggle and frustration led Haydon to take his own life in 1846. His diaries provide a harrowing glimpse into the depths of his despair, revealing a man tormented by financial woes and artistic disappointments. The failure of an exhibition mounted shortly before his death – overshadowed by the sensational popularity of General Tom Thumb – proved to be the final blow. His suicide shocked the art world and prompted a belated outpouring of sympathy from some of his former critics. Though he died in despair, Benjamin Robert Haydon is remembered not only for his dramatic canvases but also as a passionate advocate for art education and a chronicler of his time, whose writings continue to illuminate the challenges and triumphs of an artist striving for recognition in a competitive world.

Questions & Answers

In which historical period did Benjamin Haydon work?

Benjamin Haydon worked in the 19th-Century period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

What other names is Benjamin Haydon known by?

Benjamin Haydon appears under the alternate names Benjamin Robert Haydon, Mr. Haydon, Hayden, Haydon, B.R. Haydon.

Where are Benjamin Haydon's artworks organized by color?

Benjamin Haydon's works can be explored by color on the artist's Spectral Index page.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Oct. 21, 2026

Collector's quiz

Benjamin Robert Haydon specialized in what type of paintings?
What significantly influenced Haydon's work, particularly in his anatomical studies?
Haydon frequently struggled with what throughout his life?
In what year did Haydon die?
What was a notable characteristic of Haydon's artistic style?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your Benjamin Haydon

Every artwork by Benjamin Haydon in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by Benjamin Haydon