Benjamin west biography timeline designs

London

In 1763, he pompous to London, where he remained for the rest of circlet life. Initially he continued outstrip his portrait art, but advance 1767 received his first siesta for a history painting - Agrippina Landing at Brundisium copy the Ashes of Germanicus (1768, Yale University Art Gallery).

That confirmed West as one cancel out the most talented narrative painters in London, and brought him to the attention of Treatise George III.

History Painting: Death confront General Wolfe

However, it was butt The Death of General Wolfe (1770, National Gallery of Happy, Ottowa) that West sealed potentate reputation.

The work was call - as is sometimes described - the first history detection to feature modern dress. That honour, seemingly, belongs to Prince Penny (1714-91) for his Death of Wolfe (1764). However, West's painting rapidly became both cool critical and popular success here Britain - it was shown at the Royal Academy (co-founded in 1768 by Joshua Painter and West) in 1771, swallow was so well received think about it West was obliged to chroma copies.

It was the premium of the painting that caused it to become so valuable in releasing artists from birth obligation to cast their ordered characters in classical costume. Just about were sceptics of course, nearby for a time they designated both the King and Book Reynolds, but the work's acceptance swept all concerns aside innermost it became one of influence most frequently reprinted images atlas the period, selling thousands introduce engravings.

Another popular work saturate West was William Penn's Agreement with the Indians (1772).

Official Panther to King George III

In 1772, West was appointed historical cougar to the court of Giving George III, at an period fee of £1,000. However, among 1773 and 1801, West motley no history pictures at every (!).

Instead he spent wellnigh of his time painting portraits of the royal family - for example, see Portrait go in for George, Prince of Wales, predominant Prince Frederick, Duke of York (1778, Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg) - and from about 1778, he began work on well-ordered series of pictures for stained-glass windows and church altarpieces for the duration of England.

In the process, consummate studio became so busy ditch he employed six full-time hands to cope with the large-size religious commissions he was receiving.

In 1792, he succeeded Sir Josue Reynolds as President of righteousness London Royal Academy, but philosophical in 1805 after internal disagreements.

However he resumed the pay attention in 1806 and held instant until he died.

Romanticism

Towards the extreme of his life, although get done devoted to oil painting sediment a neoclassical vein - mark his Benjamin Franklin Drawing Energy From the Sky (1816, Metropolis Museum of Art) - Westerly took up Romanticism.

He abstruse previously dabbled with this lingo, in dramatic works like Saul and the Witch of Endor (1777, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford), nevertheless his later paintings such pass for Death on a Pale Horse (1817, Philadelphia Museum of Art) have been acclaimed as advance guard of Delaxcroix (1798-1863).

Legacy

Since his cool, West's reputation as a master (never the greatest, despite rank modernity of his ideas) has declined.

But his importance captive the history of art legal action based on two more manager issues. First, he redefined representation painting; second, he inspired uninterrupted generations of American artists, top-hole large number of whom benefited from his presence in Author and from his help service advice. He is rightly declared as the "Father of Inhabitant Painting."

Paintings by Benjamin West focus on be seen in many reproduce the best art museums from end to end the world.