Benjamin West

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Benjamin West

1738-1820

Two Sketches of a Soldier with Helmet and Shield

Black chalk on paper.

8 1/2 x 11 inches (216 x 279 mm)

Purchased as the gift of Mrs. Robert H. Charles.

1970.11:186

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Notes:

Watermark: John Hall.
Verso: Invitation signed by Henry Howard, Secretary of the Royal Academy, and dated 31 July 1813, requesting West to meet with the President and the members of the Council on 3 August "to proceed with the Revision of the Abstract".
The figure in this drawing is similar to that of Diomed in the painting, "Diomed and His Horses Stopped by the Lightening of Jupiter," 1793. The figure in the drawing, executed on an invitation dated 1813, was probably copied from the painting in preparation for a later version of the same subject.

Inscription:

Inscribed in pen and brown ink, "B West Esq / & & &." Seal.

Provenance:

Estate of the artist; by descent; Harry Margary, the great-grandson of Maria West (daughter of Raphael Lamar West, and granddaughter of Benjamin West); Thos. Agnew and Sons, Ltd., London; from whom purchased 60 drawings, 17 June 1964, and 197 drawings, 15 February 1965, by M. Knoedler and Co., Inc.; from whom purchased 257 drawings by the Morgan Library in 1970.

Associated names:

Margary, Harry, former owner.
Charles, Robert H., Mrs., donor.

Bibliography:

Kraemer, Ruth S. Drawings by Benjamin West and his son Raphael Lamar West. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975, no. 95.

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Artist page:

West, Benjamin

School:

American

Century:

18th century