{{ titlePrefix }} Benjamin West
About Benjamin West
Benjamin West was born on October 10, 1738, in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. West manifested a talent for painting at an early age and was encouraged to draw by his parents. His early artistic promise encouraged Philadelphia's leading citizens to finance his training in Rome. Subsequently, in 1763 West traveled to London and never returned to the Colonies. West was appointed official history painter to the king and was a founder and later was elected president of the Royal Academy. Aware of his American novelty, West used this mystique to his advantage, claiming that he had learned color mixing from Native Americans. He greatly contributed to American art in his role as teacher and advisor to the many early American artists who came to London to study with him.