1955.6
Portrait of Sir Robert Stuart, Lord of the Admiralty
Artist
Benjamin West
(Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 1738 - 1820, London, United Kingdon)
Title
Portrait of Sir Robert Stuart, Lord of the Admiralty
Creation Date
n.d.
Century
18th-19th century
Dimensions
30 1/16 in. x 25 3/16 in. (76.36 cm x 63.98 cm)
Object Type
painting
Creation Place
North America, United States
Medium and Support
oil on canvas
Credit Line
Gift of John H., Class of 1907, and Hannah Kellett Halford
Copyright
Public Domain
Accession Number
1955.6
Benjamin West was born in Pennsylvania but lived most of his life in London. As a friend of Sir Joshua Reynolds, West’s interest tended primarily toward history painting, though he was a well-versed portraitist as well. After studying in Italy, where he met painters Anton Rafael Mengs and Angelica Kauffman, among others, he was appointed as a historical painter to the court of King George III in 1772. While under George III’s patronage from 1772–1801, West also painted several portraits of members of the royal court, of which this portrait is likely one. West became the second president of the Royal Academy after the death of Reynolds, where he taught American painters John Trumbull and Thomas Sully. With the exception of one year, West served as president of the Academy from 1792 until his death in 1820.