John Galt

Originally published in two volumes in 1816 and 1820, this collection of biographical information and anecdotes tracing the career of the artist Benjamin West (1738–1820) is reissued here in one volume. Prepared by the Scottish novelist John Galt (1779–1839), it is based on the personal recollections of West himself, yet it is acknowledged to include some embellishment. Born in Pennsylvania and largely self-taught, West was the first American artist to travel through Italy to improve his skill by studying antique sculptures and old master paintings. After he came to London in 1763, his strength as a history painter was recognised, not least by George III, and he became a leader of the neoclassical movement. Instrumental in establishing the Royal Academy of Arts, West became its second president in 1792. Galt's narrative emphasises the importance of West in the history of art in Britain.