The Death of Procris

1768

A founder of the Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy comes into being in 1768, with West one of the primary leaders of an opposition group formed out of the Society of Artists of Great Britain; Joshua Reynolds becomes its first president. West had discussed the idea of an academy with George III, to whom Archbishop Drummond had brought him after a subscription for an annuity for the painter failed; the same year he is elected to the American Philosophical Society.

1771

“The Death of General Wolfe” at the Academy

The painting of 1770, which returns to the French and Indian War setting of his 1768 “General Johnson Saving a Wounded French Officer from the Tomahawk of a North American Indian”, is shown at the Royal Academy. Reynolds and other academicians at first condemn the heroes' modern rather than classical dress as an insult to history painting, but the picture is a great success, is copied many times and wins Reynolds's approval in the end — it becomes one of the most frequently reproduced images of the period.

1772

Historical painter to the court

George III appoints West historical painter to the court at an annual fee of £1,000; he holds the post until 1801.

1791

Surveyor of the King's Pictures

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

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.