Illustrated biography; or, Memoirs of the great and the good of all nations and all times; comprising sketches of eminent statesmen, philosophers, heroes, artists, reformers, philanthropists, mechanics, navigators, authors, poets, divines, soldiers, savans, etc . All admired, but no one daredto buy it. It was curious enough, however, that the reputation of this pictureraised him into high favor as a portrait-painter. Wests talents thus becoming known, soon made him acquainted, amongothers, with the archbishop of York, for whom he painted his .Agrippina. Hissuccess in the management of this sub
Illustrated biography; or, Memoirs of the great and the good of all nations and all times; comprising sketches of eminent statesmen, philosophers, heroes, artists, reformers, philanthropists, mechanics, navigators, authors, poets, divines, soldiers, savans, etc . All admired, but no one daredto buy it. It was curious enough, however, that the reputation of this pictureraised him into high favor as a portrait-painter. Wests talents thus becoming known, soon made him acquainted, amongothers, with the archbishop of York, for whom he painted his .Agrippina. Hissuccess in the management of this subject, procured his presentation to GeorgeIII. The king received West with easy frankness, assisted him to place theAgrippina in a favorable light, removed the attendants, and brought in thequeen, to whom he presented our quaker. He related to her majesty the his-tory of the picture, and bade her notice the simplicity of the design and thebeauty of the coloring. < There is another noble Roman subject, observed hismajesty, the departure of Regulus from Rome—would it not make a fine pic-ture ? * It is a magnificent subject, said the painter. * Then, replied theking, you shall paint it for me. He turned with a smile to the queen, and BENJAMIN WEST. 357. 358 BENJAMIN WEST. said, The arcnbishop made one of his sons read Tacitus to Mr. West, bat Iwill read Livy to him myself—that part where he describes the departure ofRegulus. So saying, he read the passage very gracefully, and then repeatedhis command that the picture should be painted. The Regulus was successful, and was followed by the Death of Wolfe, inwhich he substituted the costume of the day for the classic dress. Mr Westnow suggested to the king a series of pictures on the progress of repealedreligion, which were ordered. He divided his subject into four dispensations ^the Antediluvian, the Patriarchal, the Mosaical, and the Prophetical. Thevcontained in all thirty-six subjects, eighteen of which belonged to the Old T
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectbiography, bookyear18
