Dwight Benton
Dwight Baldwin Benton was an American painter, journalist and United States Consul-General of the Republic of Hawaii for Italy who resided for decades in Rome.
He learned painting in the United States, painting landscapes, portraits and cityscapes of the midwest. He became an expatriate and painted watercolor landscapes, including of the Protestant Cemetery in Rome, but also vedute of the Sabina, or the areas around Olevano and Subiaco. He also painted Veduta dell'Isola di Capri. He published a journal entitled The Roman World.
Biography
He was born in Norwich, New York. As a child he relocated with his father to Coldwater, Michigan, where his father had a government appointment. Benton showed an interest in art from an early age, "painting upon walls and canvas familiar scenes, leaves and flowers".An artist from New York who was visiting Coldwater was impressed by Benton's drawings and paintings, and invited him to visit his studio. Benton traveled to New York "by stage and on foot, and resolved to become a painter", an ambition he pursued while working for the post office in Branch county, Michigan, and subsequently in Chicago.
He attracted attention for a sketch he made in 1857 of old Fort Dearborn.
During the U.S. Civil War, Benton "joined the army, fought in several battles, and was taken prisoner by General Hood, but, with others, escaped to the Union lines, though many valuable sketches of camp life were lost."
He settled in Cincinnati, where he established himself as a painter of portraits and landscapes. "It was there he met Miss Haggott. Winning honors, he went to Italy, where he studied for three years". After a brief return to America, he moved back to Rome.
Besides being an artist, he was a journalist and art critic who published articles in the Paris American Register and other newspapers and magazines.
Benton was Consul General of the Hawaiian Republic to Rome from 1895 until its annexation to the United States in 1898. From 1898 until 1903 he was editor of The Roman World.
Later life
Dwight Benton was listed amongst many others as being guilty of treason during the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. The New Republic of Hawaii appointed him Consul-General for Italy in 1895.His connection to Hawaii was his Uncle Dwight Baldwin (missionary) for whom he was named.