Benjamin West PRA (1738-1820) succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as the 2nd president of the Royal Academy. One of the most famous early artists from North America and widely perceived as the Father of American art. During his extensive travels in Europe he was fascinated by Raphael's Cartoons including Raphael's version of St Paul preaching at Athens which can be currently seen at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London Room 48a, 'The Raphael Cartoons'.
In the late 1790's he undertook work at the St Peter & St Paul Royal Naval College in Greenwich which included producing stone medallions for the pulpit. It is believed that this study is a preliminary pen and ink drawing for the medallion called 'St Paul preaching at Athens' and is a beautiful rare study of Benjamin West's free flowing style. Fascinatingly, the final drawing shows the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens in a different aspect, which gives justification to this drawing being the first draft, which makes it even rarer as the rest of the image is very similar. It is also signed 'Benjamin West' in pencil around the edge under the mount and titled.
The final study drawing seen (details in research pack) is currently stored at the Maritime Museum storage facility in Kidbrooke, London.
. It has a diameter of 36cm and size including ornate gold frame is 46 x 47cm. It is signed and titled with copies in the research pack as the mount is circular.
The Provenance is from the Collection of Mr & Mrs J Murphy, Holland House, Huntingfield.
A full research pack will be provided to add to this lovely piece of history and the final stone medallion an be seen in Greenwich!
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