Benjamin West Portrait
c. 1776
Benjamin West, an American-born artist who became a superstar in 18th-century London, paints himself here looking incredibly dapper and deep in thought. Sporting a massive black hat, a powdered wig, and a cool blue coat, he rests his chin on his hand while clutching a rolled-up document—perhaps a sketch or a royal commission from his patron, King George III! This Neoclassical self-portrait captures the quiet confidence of a man who revolutionized historical painting and eventually became the president of the Royal Academy, proving that a boy from Pennsylvania could conquer the European art world.
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