William Beckford, author of the Gothic novel Vathek (1787), was an eccentric and enthusiastic collector of books and art. Famous for commissioning the construction of Fonthill Abbey, the most remarkable building of the English Gothic revival, he was also known as a decorator and popularizer of oriental and Gothic styles and as the focus of scandal. The books, paintings, and art objects he owned testify to his well-deserved reputation as a connoisseur.

William Beckford was born 29 September 1760 at the Beckford family home on their Fonthill estate in Wiltshire. His father, William Beckford, was a wealthy and prominent political figure. A large fortune from properties in the West Indies allowed him to cultivate a taste for art and to build a handsome Palladian mansion on the Fonthill estate. The elder Beckford was an alderman of London, twice served as lord mayor of London, and was a radical Member of Parliament...