WEST, BENJAMIN (1735-1820). An Ameri can historical painter. Ile was born at Spring field, Pa., October 10, 1738. of Quaker parentage. Strange stories are told of his youthful talent ; how he made his own brushes. and gained his first knowledge of mixing colors from the In dians. After some study with an artist named Williams he set up as a portrait painter in Philadelphia at the age of eighteen. Later he removed to New York, and finally, in 1760, went to Italy to study :Michelangelo. There he stood in high favor, and was in course of a year made honorary member of the academies of Florence, Bologna, and Parma. His stay of three years confirmed his natural tendency toward the grand style. On his arrival at London, where he permanently settled in 17G3, he was well received and encouraged by Sir Joshua Reynolds. His fortune was made by "Agrippa Landing with the Ashes of Germanicus." for Drummond, Arch bishop of York, who obtained for him the royal patronage. In 1772 George III. appointed him historical painter, and in his "Death of General Wolfe" (Grosvenor Gallery, London) he dis carded the convention of painting figures in a modern battle clothed in the costumes of the Greeks and Romans, though Sir Joshua Reynolds and the Archbishop of York tried to dis suade him from his intentions. Sir Joshua
subsequently retracted his objections and ac knowledged West's success, proclaiming the change as an epoch-making innovation. West was one of the founders of the Royal Academy and succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as its presi dent in 1792. ITe produced over four hundred canvases of heroic size, but of rather common place merit. His sense of composition is good, but his color flat and spiritless and his imagina tive power not of the highest order. His pic tures may be seen in England at the National Gallery and at Hampton Court. In America, Philadelphia possesses "Christ Healin,!? the Sick." "Penn's Treaty with the Indians," and "Death On the Pale Horse." and the Boston :Museum his "Kingdom." Consult his Life by Galt (London, 1820) ; Art Journal (ISG3) ; Tuckerman, Book of the Artists (New York, 1S67).