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Oil Painting Artist::. WEST, Benjamin
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WEST, Benjamin
American Neoclassical Painter, 1738-1820
American historical painter who worked in England. He was born in Springfield, Pa., in a house that is now a memorial museum at Swarthmore College. After some instruction from a local artist named William Williams, he set up as a portrait painter in Philadelphia at 18, subsequently moving to New York City. In 1760 he went to Europe, where he remained for the rest of his life. For three years he studied in Italy. Working under the tutelage of Anton Mengs, he was also inspired by the classical research of Johann Winckelmann. He then settled in London, becoming a leader of the neoclassical movement. Under the patronage of George III, commissions came to him in great numbers, and in 1772 he was appointed historical painter to the king. A founder of the Royal Academy, he succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as its president in 1792. West executed more than 400 canvases, chiefly historical, mythological, and religious subjects painted on a heroic scale. He had many pupils and was a generous friend and adviser to younger artists, particularly American painters studying in England, among whom were Washington Allston, Samuel Morse, Charles Willson Peale, Gilbert Stuart, and John Singleton Copley. His influence on American painting of the period was predominant. Among West's best-known works are Death of General Wolfe (Grosvenor Gall., London) and Penn's Treaty with the Indians (Pa. Acad. of the Fine Arts). In these paintings he created a new departure in historical painting by clothing his figures in the costume of their period instead of the traditional classical garb.
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Edward III Crossing the Somme
1788
Oil on canvas, 137,2 x 149,9 cm
Royal Collection, Windsor
Painting ID:: 7213
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Edward_III_Crossing_the_Somme
1788
Oil on canvas, 137,2 x 149,9 cm
Royal Collection, Windsor
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The Treaty of Penn with the Indians.
1771-72
Oil on canvas, 190 x 274 cm
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia
Painting ID:: 7217
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The_Treaty_of_Penn_with_the_Indians.
1771-72
Oil on canvas, 190 x 274 cm
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia
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Portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson
c. 1775
Oil on canvas, 203 x 138 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Painting ID:: 7220
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Portrait_of_Colonel_Guy_Johnson
c. 1775
Oil on canvas, 203 x 138 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington
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Self-Portrait
1770
Oil on canvas
Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore
Painting ID:: 7222
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Self-Portrait
1770
Oil on canvas
Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore
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The Death of General Wolfe
1770
Oil on canvas, 152,6 x 214,5 cm
National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
Painting ID:: 7223
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The_Death_of_General_Wolfe
1770
Oil on canvas, 152,6 x 214,5 cm
National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
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WEST,_Benjamin
American Neoclassical Painter, 1738-1820
American historical painter who worked in England. He was born in Springfield, Pa., in a house that is now a memorial museum at Swarthmore College. After some instruction from a local artist named William Williams, he set up as a portrait painter in Philadelphia at 18, subsequently moving to New York City. In 1760 he went to Europe, where he remained for the rest of his life. For three years he studied in Italy. Working under the tutelage of Anton Mengs, he was also inspired by the classical research of Johann Winckelmann. He then settled in London, becoming a leader of the neoclassical movement. Under the patronage of George III, commissions came to him in great numbers, and in 1772 he was appointed historical painter to the king. A founder of the Royal Academy, he succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as its president in 1792. West executed more than 400 canvases, chiefly historical, mythological, and religious subjects painted on a heroic scale. He had many pupils and was a generous friend and adviser to younger artists, particularly American painters studying in England, among whom were Washington Allston, Samuel Morse, Charles Willson Peale, Gilbert Stuart, and John Singleton Copley. His influence on American painting of the period was predominant. Among West's best-known works are Death of General Wolfe (Grosvenor Gall., London) and Penn's Treaty with the Indians (Pa. Acad. of the Fine Arts). In these paintings he created a new departure in historical painting by clothing his figures in the costume of their period instead of the traditional classical garb.
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