Benjamin West

Benjamin West was an American who became the leading history painter in London. His large canvases tell stories from the Bible, ancient history and recent events with clear, theatrical staging, and his Death of General Wolfe was a landmark because it showed a modern battle with the soldiers in modern uniforms.

He was born in Pennsylvania and was largely self taught before going to Italy in 1760 and settling in London in 1763. King George III became his patron and made him history painter to the king. He was a founder member of the Royal Academy and its president for most of the years from 1792 to his death. His studio welcomed young American painters, including Gilbert Stuart, John Trumbull and Charles Willson Peale.

Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky, with Franklin surrounded by cherubs, shows his mix of real people and allegory. He is buried in St Paul’s Cathedral.