Entretanto, na vida de Benjamin West
A vida inteira1775
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.
