The Gallery Of Pictures Painted By Benjamin West Esqr. Historical Painter, To His Majesty, And President Of The Royal Academy, Engraved In Outline By Henry Moses.
RA Collection: Book
Record number
07/1315
Imprint
Joseph Thomas 1, Finch Lane, Cornhill,, London.: [ca. 1840?]
Physical Description
[2], 22 p., engr. t.pl., [17] pl.; 288 mm.
Contents
[Engr. t.pl.] - Benjamin West (by G.M.B.) - [Plates and texts].
Responsibility Note
All plates are signed as painted by B. West and engraved by H. Moses. Most are also signed by the draughtsman - H. Moses or H. Corbould.
Each carries the publisher's imprint of Joseph Thomas.
References
A. Staley, Benjamin West [exhibition catalogue] (1989); H. van Erffa and A. Staley, The paintings of Benjamin West (1986); A.U. Abrams, The valiant hero: Benjamin West and grand-style historical painting (1985).
Summary Note
No publication-date is given. The short biographic note, 'Benjamin West', refers to West's death in 1820. Henry Moses had first published The Gallery of Pictures Painted By Benjamin West Esqr. in 1811.
The plates are captioned and show some of West's history-paintings of Christian and pagan subjects: [1] Thetis Bringing The Armour; [2] Christ Blessing The Little Children; [3] The Captive; [4] The Despair Of Venus; [5] Moses Viewing The Promised Land; [6] Priam Petitioning Achilles; [7] Alexander And His Physician; [8] Christ Conversing With The Doctors; [9] The Cave of Despair (Spenser); [10] Aaron Staying The Plague; [11] The Alarm Of Nestor; [12] Pylades And Orestes; [13] Caesar's Regret; [14] Venus Rising; [15] Judgment Of Hercules; [16] Adonis; [17] Belisarius.
The descriptive texts are signed as by 'G.M.B.', 'R.H.' or 'L.H.'
Provenance
The front pastedown is inscribed in pencil, 'S.A.H.', i.e. S.A. Hart, librarian of the Royal Academy 1864-81.
Binding Note
19th-century quarter black morocco, grey papered boards, upper cover carrying printed paper title plate (the same as the title-plate of the book); spine lettered 'Outlines From Pictures By Benjamin West. By H. Moses.' and 'RA'.
Mythology, Greek - Christian art and symbolism
Paintings - History Paintings - Great Britain - History - 18th century - 19th century
Pictorial works - 19th century