Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 8.djvu/97

BENJAMIN WEST 257 among the hardships involved, and in 1756, when eighteen years old, he estab- lished himself in Philadelphia as a portrait-painter, his price being " five guineas a head." Two years later he went to New York, where he passed eleven months, and was liberally employed by the merchants and others. He painted the portrait of Bishop Provoost, those of Gerardus Duyckinck and his wife — full length — one of Mrs. Samuel Breese, and many others, which are in the families of descendants, and characteristic examples of his early work. In 1 760 an opportunity offered for him to visit Rome, Italy. He carried letters to Cardinal Albani and other celebrities, and as he was very handsome and intelli- gent, and came from a far-away land about which hung the perpetual charm of tra- dition and romance, he soon became the lion of the day among the imaginative Ital ans. It was a novelty then for an American to appear in the Eternal City, and the very morning after his arrival a curious party followed his steps to observe his pur suit of art. He remained in Italy until 1 763, and while there he painted, among others, his pictures of "Cimon and Iphigenia," and "Angelica and Medora." His portrait of Lord Grantham excited much interest, and that nobleman's intro- duction facilitated his visit to London, which proved so prolific in results. There was no great living historical painter in England just then ; and at first there was no sale for West's pictures, as it was unfashionable to buy any but " old masters." But the young artist was undaunted, and presently attracted at- tention in high places. His picture of " Agrippina Landing with the Ashes of Germanicus," painted for Dr. Drummond, Archbishop of York, secured him the favor of George III., and the commission from his majesty to paint the "De- parture of Regulus from Rome." His untiring industry and gentlemanly habits were conspicuous, and may be regarded as among the great secrets of his con- tinual advance and public recognition. His M Parting of Hector and Androm- ache," and " Return of the Prodigal Son," were among his notable productions of this period. His " Death of General Wolfe " has been, says Tuckerman, " truly declared to have created an era in English art, by the successful example it initiated of the abandonment of classic costume — a reform advocated by Reynolds, who glories in the popular innovation." His characters were clad in the dress of their time. Reynolds said to the Archbishop of York : " I foresee that this picture will not only become one of the most popular, but will occa- sion a revolution in art." It was purchased by Lord Grosvenor. Among the long list of paintings executed by order of the king were "The Death of Chevalier Bayard ; " "Edward III. Embracing his Son on the Field of Battle at Cressy ; " " The Installation of the Order of the Garter ; " " The Black Prince Receiving the King of France and his Son Prisoners at Poictiers," and " Queen Philippa Interceding with Edward for the Burgesses of Calais." West was one of the founders, in 1768, of the Royal Academy, and succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as president of the institution in 1 792, which post he held almost unin- terruptedly until 1815. In the year 1780 he proposed a series of pictures on the progress of revealed religion, of which there were thirty-six subjects in all. but he never executed but 17