Lot 90
  • 90

Benjamin West, P.R.A.

Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 USD
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Description

  • Benjamin West, P.R.A.
  • Two angels singing
  • Watercolor, pen and brown ink;
    signed lower right: B. West / 1783 -

Provenance

With John Mitchell & Sons, London, by 1970;
sale, New York, Christie's, 20 January 1998, lot 406,
where acquired by Bernadette and William M.B. Berger, Denver, Colorado

Exhibited

London, John Mitchell & Sons, A Loan Exhibition of Watercolour Drawings in Aid of the Friends of the Courtauld Institute, 1970-1, no. 62

Catalogue Note

Even as a child growing up near Philadelphia, West's precocious artistic talent was recognized.  In 1760 he left America and after an extended tour of Italy, he settled in London.  Working in the grand European tradition of 'history painting', he enjoyed spectacular success and in 1792 he succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as the second President of the Royal Academy.  

The present drawing is typical of West's spontaneous and fluid drawing style. A comparable sheet, also dated 1783, was sold at Christie's, London in 1987 for £9,000.

1. Sale, London, Christie's, 14 July 1987, lot 145