# Richard Bill

- By: John Smibert (American, born Scotland, 1688–1751)
- Date: 1733
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: 127.6 × 102.2 cm (50 1/4 × 40 1/4 in.)
- Culture: Boston
- Credit line: Friends of American Art Collection
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/49702)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/10bdba64-db41-0811-f681-c904afded43c/full/!1802,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The Scottish-born painter John Smibert studied in London and Italy before settling in Boston in 1728. His skills as a trained formal portraitist were in great demand among the wealthy and powerful colonists in Boston. Richard Bill was a prosperous merchant and politically involved citizen. Smibert depicted him dressed in fashionable costume and standing next to a writing table. A large ship is visible through the window in the background. These details hint at Bill’s success and prestige.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0