The American-British Artist Benjamin West; A Short Biography
By: Doug West
Benjamin West, the great American-British eighteenth-century artist, was a transformative force in the Neoclassical art genre. By the time of his death in 1820 he was the most famous artist in the English-speaking world. This short biography covers the life of Benjamin West from cradle to grave.
Do you want to learn about the artist Benjamin West but don’t have the time or patience to read a thick book? Then this is the short and concise book for you!
- Grew up in colonial Pennsylvania and with little formal instruction became a portrait painter at a very young age.
- The first American artist to travel to Italy to study the art of the great masters.
- Painted the first historical art in America.
- His art helped transform the Neoclassical art world.
- Historical painter for Britain’s King George III.
- Helped found the Royal Academy of Art in London.
- His “American School” in London trained three generations of American artists, including such noted artists as: Charles Willson Peale, his son Rembrandt Peale, Gilbert Stuart, John Trumbull, John Copley, and many others.
The book “The American-British Artist Benjamin West: A Short Biography” gives a crisp look at the life and times of the artist Benjamin West.