WEST, BENJAMIN, Anglo-American painter, was b. at Springfield, Penn., Oct. 10, 1738. of Quaker parentage, and with lack of opportunity or encouragement, surprised his friends by his skill in drawing at the age of seven years, and at nine painted a picture in water-colors, which, in some points, he declared in after-life, he had never surpassed. His first colors were made from leaves, berrie,s, etc., and his brushes stolen from a cat's tail. Thus self-taught, at the age of 16 he practiced portrait-paiutiug in the villages near Philadelphia, and painted for a gunsmith his first historical picture, " The Death of Socrates." While the society of Friends were discussing the propriety of his becoming a painter, he smacked their principles still more by volunteering in a military expedition in search for the remains of Braddock's army. At 18, he was painting por traits in Philadelphia, and later at New York, where, in 1760, he was aided by some generous merchants to go and pursue his studies in Italy. At Rome, he was patronized by lord Grantham, whose portrait he painted, became the friend of 3.1engs, and, as the first American artist ever seen iu Italy, attracted much attention. Ile painted his "China] and Iphigenia," and "Angelica and Medora," and was elected member of the academies of Fiorenec, Bologna, and Parma. In 1763, visiting England on his way to
America, he was induced to remain in London, and in 1765 married Eliza Showell, to whom he had been engaged before leaving America. His "Agrippina landing with the ashes of Germanicus,' attracted the attention of George III., who was his steady friend and patron for forty years, during which time he sketched or painted 400 pictures. IIis " Death of Gen. Wolfe," painted in the costume of the period, against the advice of all the most distinguished painters, effected a revolution in historic art. For the king, he painted a series of 28 religious pictures for Windsor castle. his best-known works are "Christ healing the Sick," "Death on the Pale Horse," and the "Battle of La Hague." In 1792 be succeeded sir Joshua 'Reynolds as the president of the Royal academy, lint declined the honor of knighthood. Through his whole career he was the generous friend, adviser, and patron of young artists. The Life and Studies of Ben jamin West were compiled from materials furnished by himself, by John Galt, in two parts (Loud. 1810-20); and a biography of him is also given in Cunningham's Lives of Eminent British Painters. He died in London, March 11, 1820, and was buried with great pomp at St. Pain's cathedral. His wife died 1817. Two sons survived him.