Benjamin West collection, 1771-circa 1879

Collection Information

Size: 0.3 linear feet

Summary: This collection measures 0.3 linear feet and consists of 19 items dated 1771-circa 1879, relating to expatriate painter Benjamin West. West, who settled in London and was renowned for his portraits and his paintings of historical events, was the first internationally known American painter. The collection provides scattered documentation of West's activities including during the time of his appointment as historical painter to King George III, and contains scattered letters from West, two engravings of the artist, prints, and ephemera.

Biographical/Historical Note

Benjamin West (1738-1820) was a portrait and history painter, London, England. Born in Pennsylvania. In 1763, he moved to London and opened his own studio. In 1772 he was appointed the court historical painter to King George III. Served as president of the Royal Academy, 1792-1815.

Provenance

Material received through gift and purchase from various sources: letters on reel D10 donated by Charles Feinberg, 1955-1958; account book pages, fr. 1683-1685, purchased from Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, ca. 1960; reel 3480: wood engraving, fr. 1255-1258 transferred 1981 from the NMAA/PG Library; letters on fr. 1259-1267 were originally lent for microfilming on reel D316 by Charles Feinberg, 1967, and subsequently purchased by AAA in 1968; letter on fr. 1279-1291 purchased 1963 from Charles Hamilton Autographs, Inc.; and the source of print on fr. 1268-1278 is unspecified.

Funding

Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.