WEST, Benjamin, American painter: h. Springfield, Chester County, Pa., 10 Oct. 1738; d. London, 11 March 1820. After some instruc tion from William Williams, a Philadelphia painter. and having painted 'The Death of Socrates' for a gunsmith, he established him self as a portrait painter at Philadelphia at five guineas per portrait and subsequently followed the same profession in New York. In July IMO be visited Rome, whence he proceeded to Florence. Bologna. Venice and Parma. Re turning to Rome, he painted 'Cimon and Iphi genia' and 'Angelica and Medora ' He was elected member of the academies of Florence, Bologna and Parma, and, visiting England in 1763, was so well patronized that he determined to make it his future residence. He executed a historical painting of 'Agrippina Landing with the Ashes of Germanicus' for Drummed, archbishop of York, who introduced hiN1 to George III. The king became his steadfast patron and gave him commissions for many years. In 1772 he was made historical painter to the king, in 1790 surveyor of the royal pic tures. He was one of four selected to draw up a plan of the Royal Acedemy, was one of the original members, and there exhibited his 'Death of General Wolfe (now in the Grosve nor gallery, London) in 1771. In this canvas West departed from the custom of the artists of the day of giving the characters Greek or Roman costumes. Reynolds, who had endeav ored to dissuade him, later said, retract my objections. I foresee that this picture will not only become one of the most popular, but will occasion a revolution in art.* Woolett's plate
after this work had the largest sale of any engraving of modem times. West painted a series of historical works for Windsor and for the chapel a series on the progress of revealed religion, divided into four series, antediluvian, patriarchal, Mosaic and prophetic. On the death of Reynolds in 1792 be was unanimously elected president of the Royal Academy. When George ILI became insane the order for painting the religious series was abruptly recalled and the pay stopped. West had finished 28 pictures and sketched the entire series. He afterward painted a number of religious and historical pictures on very large canvases. Among them may be noticed 'Christ Healing the Sick' (in the National Gallery). the 'Crucifixion,' the 'Ascension' and 'Death on the Pale Horse' (Pennsylvania Academy). The 'Battle of La Hogue' is among the best of his historical pieces. West's pictures num bered about 400. They are chiefly of heroic size and display much inventive power and great skill in composition. But they are monot onously reddish-brown in coloring, and, despite their facility, lack spirit and imaginative value_ His position in early American art has won for him a recognition somewhat in excess of his actual merit. Consult Galt. 'Life and Studies of Benjamin West' (1820) ; Tuckerman,