The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-04-11
Benjamin West.

A pretty story is told Of his first at.
tempts at painting. Inspired at the age
of pinc by the sight of somo ongravings
and the gilt of a paint-box, he used to
play truant from school, "and as soon as
he got out Of sight of his father and
mother he would steal up to his garret,
and there pass the hours in world of
his own. AT last, after he had been alb.
sent from school somo days, the master
called at bis fathers house to inquire
what had become of him. This led to
the discovery of his secret occupation
His mother, proceeding to the garret,
found the truant but so much was she
astonished and delighted by the creations
of his pencil, which met her view when
she entered the apartment, that, instead
Of rebuking him, she could only take him
in her arms and kiss him with transports
of affection" Doubtless many other
soft.hearted mothers have thus greeted
what they fondly imagined to bc the
dawning of genius in their offspring, but
with consequences less appalling. The
young artist went early to Romo, where
his appearance, coming from the far
Western world, excited curious interest
and attention. Crowds followed him to
observe the Impressions created by the
marves he encountered On the COM
pletion of his studies, which he pursued
with assiduity, he went to England, there
soon afterward married, and there re.
maiued until his death, at the age of sew.
enty. nine. But a very small number of
his works are owned in this country. His
"Christ Healing the Sick" presented by
the artist to the Pennsylvania Hospital,
is still in the possession of that institi.
ton. 1t was once greatly admired. The
Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts owns
his death on the Pale Horse" hi:
"Chrst Rejected and his Cupid" a e
also owned in that city. His Lear
may be seen in the gallery Of the Bostor
Atheneum. Two of his pictures. illus
trating scenes from the Iiad, belong t.
the collection of the New York Histori
cal Society. 1t must be remembered tt
bis honor that he was the first historica
painter to break through the absurd aca
demical traditions which required moderl
subjects to be painted in the so.callct
classic style. When his death o
Wolfe" was exhibited at the Roya
Academy of Lcudon, the adherents of th
old style complained Of the barbarism o
boots, buttons and blunderbusses, an,
cried out for naked warriors with bows
bucklers, and battering-rams' Reynod
and the Archbishop of York demonstrate,
with West against his daring innovation
The artist calmly replied that "the even
to be commemorated happened in the yea
1853. in region Of the world unknow
to the Greeks and Remains, and at a pc
riod when no warrior who wore classica
costume existed. The same rule whc
gave law to the historian should Cover
the painter" Reynolds was at lepgt
compelled to acknowledge the justice O
the popular verdict in favor of the ne
style, and to declare that 'West has col
: quered. foresee that this picture wi
: not only become one of the most popula
but will occasion a revolution in art
: West was a sensible. kindly man, of pur
: life and lofty aims. His ambition, vi
. happily, was far beyond Lis capacity
. an artist, and his fame has steadily &
9 clined since his death. His highest di
', tinctlon as an artist was his elevation
. the presidency Of the Royal Academy
; Harper'S Magazine.