Benjamin West – Anglo-American Painter

Benjamin West (1738 – 1820) was a Anglo-American Painter who created many historical scenes. He was born in Pennsylvania and learned how to make paint from Native Americans. He originally painted portraits and later became associated with a wealthy patron who connected him to other painters from which he learned advanced skills such as painting silk and satin. His travels to Italy exposed him to works from Titian and Raphael who influenced his later works. He later traveled to England from where he never returned home. His career involved commissions from the King of England and he helped establish a Royal Academy. Our Benjamin West collection of patterns includes several self portraits, other portraits including James Smith, John Grey, Henry Middleton, William Markham, Charles Wilson Peale, and Peter Beckford, and many historical paintings including Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky, Isaac’s Servant Tying the Bracelet on Rebecca’s Arm, Fidelia and Speranza, Cupid and Psych, The Burghers of Calais, The Death of General Wolfe, and The Death of Nelson.