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In 1760, Benjamin West left Springfield in the Pennsylvania colony for Italy, determined to improve his artistic education through exposure to the art of antiquity and the Italian Renaissance. Three years later he settled in London, where he quickly established himself as the leading history painter and a favorite of King George III. Despite its modest size, this painting is a profound meditation on West’s own cosmopolitan identity. Standing to the right, West is dressed in a luxurious lilac mantle, palette in hand. Betsy, his American-born wife, sits in the window with their two sons; the newborn was a godson of Benjamin Franklin. The artist’s Quaker father, John, sits in profile next to the artist’s half-brother, Thomas. They sit together quietly, soberly dressed Quakers, while Benjamin West stands behind, the famous head of an affluent and fashionable family having progressed from colonial innkeeper’s son to confidant of the king.

Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2022

Details

  • Title: The Artist and His Family
  • Creator: Benjamin West, 1738–1820, American, active in Britain (from 1763)
  • Creator Lifespan: 1738/1820
  • Creator Nationality: American, active in Britain (from 1763)
  • Creator Gender: male
  • Date Created: ca. 1772
  • Physical Dimensions: 20 1/2 x 26 1/4 inches (52.1 x 66.7 cm)
  • Subject Keywords: palette, hat, curtains, collar, armchairs, group portrait, self-portrait, conversation piece, headpiece, breeches, ruffle, brown coat, buckles, father, artist, painter, baby, infant, son, mother, children, boy, Quakers, brother, family, woman, men, portrait
  • External Link: See this work of art on the Yale Center for British Art website
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Repository Name: Yale Center for British Art
  • Credit Line: Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection

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