Evening star., 1938-03-27

AAis w ChIlOC llAo AlbSlCcO LII al Y luS DSs
gan, when small boy. to draw and to
paint with such rude instruments and
pigments as he could muster. After a
common school education, through the
help OF the head of the College Of Phil
adelphia, now the University of Penn
sylvania, he was enable to acquire the
elements of college course in brief
time.
At the age Of II he set up In Phila-
delphia as portrait painter. charging
5 guineas for head. Hearing that he
could get better prices in New York, he
removed to that city and there found
much employment in taking like
nesses to be transmitted to relatives
and friends" His price for a half
length portrait was 10 guineas, and
from money so earned he save a sum-
cient amount for a short trip to Italy.
BY fortunate circumstance, on landing
in Leghorn, he met q prominent Eng
lishmen named Robinson. later Lord
Grantham, who became his friend and
patron. 1t was through him that West
made the acquaintance Of the Arch
bishop of York and later was brought
to the notice of King George Ill.
AN HISTORICAL painting, the
Death Of Wolfe" established his
reputation. 1t Is said that Sir Joshua
Reynolds demonstrated with West for
painting the characters in this picture
in contemporary dress, rather than
classical attire, but he was not to be
overpersuaded, and all of his historical
pictures were, as near as he could
make them, historically correct.
So complete was Vests success in
London and so strong his position
there, that in 1888 the King named
him as one of four artists to draw up
and lay before him plan for a royal
academy of art. Reynolds was elected
,, first president, but upon his death
West succeeded to this high ofice.
Almost as extraordinary as Vests
success as painter was his generosity
to young painters, which, one of his
biographers remarked, was never
marred by the slightest jealousy or fear
that they would supplant him in COM
missions or honors. No young aspiring
artist from America ever knocked at
his door without receiving welcome and
often substantial financial aid. Copley
did not study under West. but owed
much Of his early success in England
to his backing. Stuart, Trumbull,
| Charles Wilson Peale, Earl, Fulton,
| Malbone. Ralph Earle, Washington
Allston, Sully. Morse. Rembrandt Peale
and Leslie were among his pupils and
acknowledged the deepest indebted
ness to him.
In 1772 West was appointed his
torical painter to the King; in 1902
he was made q member Of the Ma
tional Institute Of Paris.
IT SHOULD be remembered that
Vests residence in London covered
the period Of the Revolutionary War.
but he was always = stanch American,
and even in the presence of the King
Is said to have once remarked that
the calamities Of his native country
could not be expected to give him
pleasure.
In 1916 the Death of Wolfe" was
purchased by Lord Grosvenor before
the King could be persuaded to buy
it. When the picture became q great
success, West was commanded by the
King to paint replica. The original
version, one of siX is included now in
the Philadelphia Exhibition. having
been lent by the National Gallery Of
Canada. to which it was presented
some years ago by the Duke Of West
minister, great-great-grandson of the
original owner.
Also included in the exhibition Is
"Penn's Treaty with the Indians" and
there are three portrait groups of
the Drummond family reassembled
here for the first time. They repre-
sent the children Of the Archbishop
OF York, Vests patron and friend.
Another portrait group included in
this exhibition, of great interest and
unusual character, is Of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Custance, painted in 1888, which
is thought to show the strong infiu-
ence Van Dyke had upon West and
his contemporaries in England, but
which possesses a distinctly French
flavor. 1t is an extraordinary COM
position in which cupids and nymphs
share honors with John Custance and
his wife. There are numerous single
portraits also which give indication
Of his ability along this particular
line.
or SPECIAL interest is the painting
Of the famous American School,"
by Matthew Pratt. his pupil, painted
In London, 1765, showing West In his
studio surrounded by young American
painters. This canvas is lent by the
Metropolitan Museum Of Art.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art owns
one of his allesorical paintings, Cupid
and Psyche" dated 1903, typical in q
m aaa Ri1ro hut MT opn ~ h}g t&aat