West, Benjamin (1738–1820)

American neoclassical painter. A noted history painter, he was active in London from 1763 and enjoyed the patronage of George III for many years. The Death of General Wolfe (1770; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa) began a vogue for painting recent historical events in contemporary costume.

Traditionally history painting – thought to be one of the highest genres of painting – had featured Greek or Roman subjects. West established a new approach by depicting recent events as they might realistically have happened, rather than presenting them through classical allusion.

Born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, West was initially a sign and portrait painter in Philadelphia. In 1759 he went to Italy and in 1763 to London where he was a founder-member of the Royal Academy, becoming president 1792 after the death of Joshua Reynolds. He was a respected teacher, especially of fellow American artists in London, for example John Copley, Washington Allston, and Gilbert Stuart, and through them he exercised a strong influence on American painting.