Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-12-14
BOYHoOD OF BENJAMIN WEST

a Mothers Kiss.-The first display of
talent in the infant mind Of Mr.. West, was
curious, and still more so from its occurring
where there was nothing to excite it.
America contained scarcely specimen OF
the fine arts and being the son of Qua
ker, he had never seen picture, or print.
Ills pencil was his own invention his
colors were given 10 him by an Indian; his
whole life was a series Of invention, and
painting to him was not the result Of les
son, but an intutiye passion.
When only seven years of age, he was
one day left with the charge Of an infant
niece in the cradle, and had fan to flap
away the flies from the child. The motion
fthe fan made the child smile, and lis beau
ty attracted his attention. He looked at it
with pleasure he had never before ex-
pcricnced; and observing some paper on the
table, together with pens and red and black
ink. he seized them with agitation, and en-
deayored to delineate a portrait; although
at that period he had never seen an en-
craving or picture. Hearing the ap.
proach of his mother and sister, he endea-
vored to conceal what he had been doing ;
but the old lady, Observing his confusion,
on seeing the paper. He obeycd, entreat-
ing her not TO be angry. Mrs. West, after
looking some time at the drawing, with evil
dent pleasure, said TO her daughter, Z" de.
clare nc has made likeness OF little Sal
ly" and kissed him with much fondness and
satisfaction. This encouraged him to say,
that if il would give her any pleasure, he
would make drawing of flowers she held
in her hand; for his genius was awakened,
and he felt that he could initiate any thing
which pleased his sight. In after life he
used to say, "My mothers kiss made me u
painter"
Young West used pen and ink for his
drawings until hair pencils were described
to him, when he found a substitute in the
tapering fur of cats tail. In the follow
ing year, cousin sent him box of colors
and pencils, with several pieces of canvass
prepared for the easel, and six engravings.
The box was received with delight, and
West now found all his wants supplied.
He rose at the dawn Of the following day,
oiiu SaiiiOu hiiO WA w uiC SdfItt, WNcTC lc
spread the canvass, prepared his pallet and
began to initiate the figures in the engrav-
ing. Enchanted with his art, he forgot his
school hours, and joined the family at dim
ner, without mentioning the employment in
which he had been engaged. In the after
noon he again returned to the garnet; and
for several days successfully he withdrew
in the same manner, and devoted himself in
painting.
Mrs. West suspecting that the box oc-
casioned his neglect of school, went into the
garden and found him employed on pic.
ture. Her anger was soon appeased by Q
sight Of his performance. She saw no
merely copy, but composition from two
of the pictures. She kissed him with tran
sports of affection and promised that she
would intercedc with his father to pardon hi
absence from school. The piece, finished
in the 9Th year, was exhibited sixty.sevcl
years afterwards, in the same room with hi
sublime picture Of "Christ rejected :" an;
the artist declared that there were inventiv,
touches in his first juvenile essay, which al
his subsequent experience had not enables
m,