Hagar and Ishmael

1775

American Revolution: West stays neutral

When the American Revolution breaks out, West remains ambivalent and speaks out neither for nor against the war in his land of birth.

1776

Death of his father, John West

West's father, John West (1690–1776), dies — an innkeeper who kept the Square Tavern in Newtown Square, still standing today.

1791

Surveyor of the King's Pictures

West becomes Surveyor of the King's Pictures and remains so until his death.

1792–1805

Post: President of the Royal Academy of Arts

c. 1801

Without royal patronage: large religious paintings

Having lost royal patronage (he held the court post until 1801), West begins a series of large-scale religious works. The first, “Christ Healing the Sick”, intended as a gift to Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, is instead sold for £3,000 to the British Institution, which presents it to the National Gallery; West then makes a copy to send to Philadelphia.

1805

Resigns the presidency, then returns

A victim of the “Venetian secret” — a scandal over a supposedly secret set of materials and techniques used by Renaissance painters in Venice — West resigns, to be replaced by his fierce rival, the architect James Wyatt. The following year he is elected president again and serves until his death.