Benjamin West, P.R.A.

Property from the Estate of Angela Gross Folk, Sold Without Reserve

Benjamin West, P.R.A.

Springfield, Pennsylvania 1738 - 1829 London

Children eating cherries

signed and dated on edge of table: B WEST 1800

oil on canvas, unlined

canvas: 7 by 9 ⅜ in.; 17.8 by 23.8 cm.

framed: 14 ⅞ by 17 ⅜ in.; 37.8 by 44.1 cm.
Provenance

The artist, and thence by descent to his sons, Raphael and Benjamin West;

By whom offered to the United States Congress, April 1826, no. 89;

Thence by whom sold, London, George Robins, 22 May 1829, lot 50;

Where acquired by C. Morgan, London, for £43;

Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 13 July 1931, lot 106;

Where acquired by Feldman for £1.1.0;

Anonymous sale ("The Property of a Lady"), London, Christie’s, 18 November 1988, lot 96;

Where acquired by the mother of the present owner.Literature

"Biographical Sketch of Benjamin West, Esq. President of the Royal Academy," in Universal Magazine 3, no. 19 (June 1805), p. 525;

J. Barlow, The Columbiad, A Poem, Philadelphia 1807, p. 435 (as "In Mr. West's Own Collection");

"A Correct Catalogue of the Works of Benjamin West, Esq.," in La Belle Assemblée, or, Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine 4, no. 32 (July 1808), p. 18 (as "In the Gallery");

J. Galt, The Life, Studies, and Works of Benjamin West Esq., President of the Royal Academy of London, London 1820, p. 230;

"Mr. West's Pictures," in Times (London), 26 May 1829;

J. Dillenberger, Benjamin West: The Context of His Life's Work, San Antonio 1977, pp. 195, 201, 204, 234, cat. no. 393;

H. von Effra and A. Staley, The Paintings of Paintings of Benjamin West, New Haven and London 1986, p. 415, cat. no. 442 (as whereabouts unknown).Exhibited

London, Royal Academy, 1801, no. 136;

London, West's Gallery at 14 Newman Street, 1821-1828, no. 60.Catalogue note

Benjamin West executed this charming painting of a small family enjoying a selection of cherries on an intimate scale. The signed and dated work possesses an interesting early provenance. After being shown in 1801 at the Royal Academy's annual exhibition, the painting remained in West's own collection, eventually passing to his two sons, who displayed it in West's London studio (repurposed as a gallery) at 14 Newman Street. Raphael and Benjamin West Jr. subsequently offered a trove of West's paintings, including the present work, to the United States Congress, in the hope of cementing their father's American legacy. When that not did come to fruition, the brothers sold the collection at auction in May 1829 over the course of a three day sale. At the time, the Times (London) noted that soon after West completed Children eating cherries in 1800, he was offered the astounding price of 900 guineas for the painting, which he refused to accept, preferring to keep the work in his personal collection.