Benjamin West valuation
American-born history painter who became President of the Royal Academy in London.
Benjamin West (1738–1820) was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, studied in Italy from 1760 and settled in London in 1763.
What a work by Benjamin West is worth
Send photographs and whatever paperwork came with it. The first question is what the work actually is — edition or unique, when, and in what condition — because everything else follows from the answer. A valuation is free, made online from the photographs you send, and it commits you to nothing. We act for sellers across the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.
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Bio
Benjamin West (1738–1820) was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, studied in Italy from 1760 and settled in London in 1763. He was a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768 and was made historical painter to George III. The Death of General Wolfe of 1770, now in the National Gallery of Canada, shocked some by showing a recent event in modern dress and proved hugely popular. He succeeded Joshua Reynolds as President of the Royal Academy in 1792, and his London studio trained a generation of American painters including Gilbert Stuart and John Trumbull.
What comes to market is oil sketches, drawings, portraits and religious or historical pictures, some very large. He made many sketches and replicas of his compositions, so the relation of a work to a known painting is the first question. A buyer will want reference to the published catalogue of his paintings. Large canvases should be checked for relining, old tears and discoloured varnish.
At a glance
- Born
- 10 October 1738, Springfield Township
- Died
- 11 March 1820, London
- Movement
- Neoclassicism
Whitebank Fine Art is an art advisory and gallery, not an auction house, and is not affiliated with any auction house or with the artist, their estate or their representatives. This page describes the range we advise on. Nothing here is investment advice.
