American Revolutionary War Painter BENJAMIN WEST ~ Old 1877 Art Print Engraving

Description: BENJAMIN WEST Artist: Thomas Lawrence _________________ Engraver: A. L. Dick IMAGE IS MUCH SHARPER AND CLEARER THAN SCAN SHOWS !! A HIGH QUALITY STEEL ENGRAVING BOOKPLATE FROM THE 1880'S!! PERFECT FOR FRAMING AS AN ART PRINT FOR YOUR DEN !! VERY ANTIQUE & OLD WORLD LOOKING. ITEM(s) OVER 115 YEARS OLD!! BENJAMIN WEST, one of the earliest American painters, was born near Springfield, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1738. His parents, who were Quakers, allowed him to cultivate his talent for drawing and painting, though such a course was in opposition to the rigid principles of their sect. He began to make drawings from nature in his seventh year, and a year or so later he received a present of a paint-box, which was to him an inspiration. "Even after going to sleep he awoke more than once during the night and anxiously put out his hand to the box, which he had placed by his bedside, half afraid that he might find his riches only a dream. Next morning he rose at break of day, and carrying his colors and canvas to the garret, proceeded to work. Everything else was now unheeded; even his attendance at school was given up. As soon as he got out of the sight of his father and mother he stole to his garret, and here passed the hours in a world of his own. At last, after he had been absent from school some days, the master called at his father's house to inquire what had become of him. This led to the discovery of his secret occupation. His mother, proceeding to the garret, found the truant; but so much was she astonished and delighted by the creation of his pencil, which also met her view when she entered the apartment, that, instead of rebuking him, she could only take him in her arms, and kiss him with transports of affection. He made a new composition of his own out of two engravings, which he had colored from his own feeling of the proper tints, and so perfect did the performance already appear to his mother, that although half the canvas yet remained uncovered, she would not suffer him to add another touch to what he had done. Mr. Gait, West's biographer, saw the picture in the state in which it had thus been left, sixty-seven years afterwards, and the artist himself used to acknowledge that in none of his subsequent efforts had he been able to excel some of the touches of invention in this his first essay." In 1756 young West went to Philadelphia, where he received such elementary instruction in his art as that city then afforded. He established himself there as a portrait-painter, and subsequently went to New York, where he continued to practise his profession or art. In 1760 he was enabled to visit Italy, where his portrait of Lord G-rantham, at first generally attributed to Raphael Meugs, excited much interest. In I763 he went to England on his way to America, but he met with such encouragement there that he took up his permanent residence in London. He died in that city, March II, 1820, and was buried in St. Paul's. For many years he enjoyed the favor and patronage of the King. He was happy in his domestic and social relations, and was blessed with ample means and a wide spread reputation. "When we connect in fancy West's humble birthplace with his cathedral tomb, and revive the details of his life, we recognize a singular exception to the fortunes of our early native artists, most of whom had so long a conflict with adverse circumstances. Indeed, the comfort he enjoyed may somewhat account for the absence of intensity and aspiration in his genius; spirituality is the offspring of deep experience; he suffered no trying ordeal, he was not disciplined and elevated by the battle of life: his success was too easily achieved; order, calmness, and regularity marked his experience not less than his character. It is an anomalous fact in American artist-life that our earliest painter was the most prosperous." During the last forty years of his life Mr. West sketched or painted at least four hundred pictures, most of them large, and left two hundred elaborate drawings. In 1762 he succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as president of the Royal Academy, and he was holding that office at the time of his death. "One of his early pictures, the ' Death of Wolfe,' widely known through the fine engravings of Wollett, may be said to have created an era in the history of British art, from the fact that the figures were habited in the costume appropriate to their time and character." He painted for George III. a number of subjects taken from early English history. The first of a series of religious pieces, "Christ Healing the Sick," was intended as a present to the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, but it was purchased for £3,000 by the British Institute, and he afterward sent a copy with some alterations to Philadelphia. His " Death on the Pale Horse " is in the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. In the opinion of many, his "Christ Rejected" is his best picture in America. Among those in England, the "Pylades and Orestes" is one of the best. SIZE: Image size in inches is 5" x 7", overall page size is 6 1/2 " x 9 1/2". CONDITION: Condition is good. Nothing on reverse. SHIPPING: Buyers to pay shipping/handling, domestic orders receives priority mail, international orders receive regular mail. We pack properly to protect your item! An engraving is an intaglio process of printing, with the design to be produced is cut below the surface of the plate (made of copper, steel or wood), and the incised lines are filled with ink that is then transferred to paper. The portraits on our currency are good examples of engraved images. A Photogravure is an intaglio process in which the plate is produced photographically. Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, heliogravure, lithograph, line drawing, photogravure etc. are ALL images on paper. THIS IS AN ACTUAL STEEL ENGRAVING FROM THE 1870's! A VERY RARE PORTRAIT ! Powered by eBay Turbo Lister The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items.

Price: 5.73 USD

Location: New Providence, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-12-21T01:48:42.000Z

Shipping Cost: 7.95 USD