When advanced in life he was very desirous of obtaining this portrait, as a specimen of his juvenile productions, and frequently wrote to his relations in Pennsylvania to procure it for him if possible. But it could not he found.
When a little school-boy, lie drew a ship in the sand, which took the attention, and excited the ad miration of his school-fellows, and drew them from their play to examine it. One of them seemed dis pleased at this interruption to their amusements, and reluctantly followed the other boys, who were assembled round the young artist to view this evi dence of his skill. When this boy at length conde scended to look at the picture of the ship in the sand, \Vest asked him what he thought of it. "I think," answered the boy " that time and chance happen to all, and you'll be a great man yet:" which prediction he confirmed by an oath. It appears that this incident, trifling as it may seem, made a lasting impression on the mind of West. For in his letters to his friends in Pennsylvania, he fre quently made inquiries after this boy, and reminded them of his prediction.
One of his early productions was the treaty of William Penn with the Indians, under the great elm tree in Kensington. This painting was for many years in the possession of his brother; but lie lent it to an artist of Philadelphia, who never re turned it, and it cannot now be found. The loss of this painting is deeply regretted by his friends and relations, on account of the interesting charac ter of the subject, the merits of the design, and the skill displayed in the execution.
He was first taught how to mix red and yellow colours by a party of Indians who visited his father's house at Springfield. To these his brother added blue, by giving him a piece of indigo. But the greatest stimulus and encouragement was given to his genius when very young, by a present of a box of paints, some pencils, several pieces of canvass, and a number of engravings, from a relation of the family who resided in Philadelphia. The attention of this relative had been attracted by some speci mens which he had seen of the young artist's skill, when on a visit to his father's house; and perceiving the embarrassments under which he laboured for want of suitable materials on which to exercise his native talent, he sent him the presents above mentioned. These presents filled him with delight and enthusiasm. For several successive clays he spent his time in a retired room in the garret, where he spread the canvass on the floor, and imi tated the figures in the engravings. In this de
lightful employment he forgot the school hours, and joining the family at meal times, lie concealed from his parents the manner in which he spent his time. At length the school-master sent to learn the cause of his absence from school. This led to a discovery of the nature of his employments and the cause of his absence. His mother had ob served him retiring to the garret, and on examina tion she found him at work at his painting. Her displeasure at his absenting himself from school was changed into admiration, when she came to view his performance. "Ile had not condescend ed to copy a single engraving; but had selected the most striking features from a number, and by combining them with wonderful taste and accu racy, had composed a picture as complete in the arrangement of the several parts, and colouring of the whole, as the most skilful artist could have painted, under the direction of a finished master." " Sixty-seven years afterwards," says his biogra pher Galt, " Mr. West had the gratification of seeing this piece in the same room with his sub lime painting of ' Christ Rejected,' on which occasion lie declared that there were inventive strokes of art in his first juvenile essay, which, with all the knowledge and experience he after wards acquired, he had never been able to sur pass." When about fourteen years old, at the solicitation of his uncle John Clarkson, lie was placed under the tuition of Dr. Smith, Provost of the college of Philadelphia. Under the patronage of his uncle, he was instructed in classical literature, and had every facility afforded him for the cultivation of his talent for painting. Dr. Smith, perceiving the bent of his genius, gave such a direction to his in structions as would improve his taste, and give him a perfect knowledge of the great masters of Greece and Rome. " He did not impose upon him those grammatical exercises of language which are usually required from young students of the classics, but directed his attention to those in cidents which were likely to interest his fancy, and furnish him at some future time, with subjects for the pencil." Be continued to prosecute his studies advantageously, until about sixteen years of age. About this time it became an object of solicitude with his father that the occupation of his life should be finally determined. And here we have to record one of the most remarkable and interesting incidents in his life.