Inventive touches in art.-Future career considered.

avoided copying, and made a picture composed from two of the engravings, telling a new story, and coloured with a skill and effect which was in her sight surprising. Sixty-seven years after this piece was exhibited in the same room with the sublime painting of Christ Rejected, and the painter then declared “that there were inventive touches of art in this juvenile essay, which, with all his subsequent knowledge and experience, he had not been able to surpass." His future career became the subject of anxious deliberation. His father resolved upon submitting the matter to the Society to which he belonged.

The spirit of speech first descended on one John Williamson. "To John West and Sarah Pearson," said this western luminary, "a man-child hath been born, on whom God hath conferred some remarkable gifts of mind, and you have all heard that, by something amounting to inspiration, the youth has been induced to study the art of painting. It is true that our tenets refuse to own the utility of that art to mankind, but it seemeth to me that we have considered the matter too nicely. God has bestowed on this youth a genius for art-shall we question His wisdom? Can we believe that He gives such rare gifts but for a wise and good purpose e? I see the Divine hand in this; we shall do well to sanction the art and encourage this youth."

Benjamin was summoned, and took his station in the middle of the room, his father on his right hand, and his mother on his left, while around him flocked the whole Quaker community. One of the women now spoke, but Williamson's words are alone remembered. "Painting," said he, "has been hitherto employed to embellish life, to preserve voluptuous images, and to add to the sensual gratifications of man. For this we classed it among vain and merely ornamental things, and excluded it from among us. But this is not the principle, but the misemployment of painting.

Dedicated to art.-Established as portrait painter.

In wise and pure hands it rises in the scale of moral excellence, and displays a loftiness of sentiment and a devout dignity worthy of the contemplation of Christians. I think genius is given by God for some high purpose. What the purpose is, let us not inquire-it will be manifest in His good time and way. He hath, in this remote wilderness, endowed with the rich gifts of a superior spirit this youth, who has now our consent to cultivate nis talents for art—may it be demonstrated in his life and works that the gifts of God have not been bestowed in vain, nor the motives of the beneficent inspiration, which induces us to suspend the strict operation of our tenets, prove barren of religious or moral effect!" "At the conclusion of this address," says Galt, "the women rose and kissed the young artist, and the men, one by one, laid their hands on his head."

Ere

That this scene made a strong impression on the mind of West, we have his own assurance; he looked upon himself as expressly dedicated to art. He established himself in Philadelphia, as a portrait painter, in the eighteenth year of his age. After painting the heads of all who desired it, he went to New York, hoping to raise a sufficient sum to take him to Rome. long, one of the Allans of Philadelphia, offered him a passage to Leghorn. It happened that a New-York merchant, of the name of Kelly, was at that time sitting to West for his portrait. To this gentleman the artist spoke of his intended journey. Kelly paid for his portrait, gave him a letter to his agents in Philadelphia, shook him by the hand, and wished him a good voyage. When the letter of Kelly was presented, it was found to contain an order from that generous merchant to his agent to pay him fifty guineas a present to aid in his equipment for Italy. The plodding citizens of New York rose in the painter's estimation fifty per cent.

Arrival at Rome.-Anecdote.-First sight of the Apollo.

When it was known that a young American had come to study Raphael and Michael Angelo, some curiosity was excited among the Roman virtuosi. The first fortunate exhibiter of this lion from the western wilderness, was Lord Grantham. He invited West to dinner, and afterwards carried him to an evening party, where he found almost all those persons to whom he had brought letters of introduction. Among the rest was Cardinal Albani. "I have the honour," said Lord Grantham, "to present a young American, who has letters for your eminence, and who has come to Italy for the purpose of studying the fine arts." The Cardinal knew so little of the New World, that he conceived an American must needs be a savage. "Is he black or white?" said the aged virtuoso, holding out both his hands, that he might have the satisfaction of touching this new wonder. Lord Grantham smiled, and said, "He is fair—very fair.” What, as fair as I am?" exclaimed the prelate. The complexion of the churchman was a deep olive-that of West more than commonly fair; and as they stood together the company smiled. "As fair as the cardinal," became for a while proverbial.

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Others, who had the use of their eyes, seemed to consider the young American as at most, a better kind of savage, and accordingly were curious to watch him. They wished to try what effect the Apollo, the Venus, and the works of Raphael would have upon him; and "thirty of the most magnificent equipages in the capital of christendom, and filled with the most erudite characters in Europe," says Galt, "conducted the young Quaker to view the masterpieces of art." It was agreed that the Apollo should be first submitted to his view. The statue was enclosed in a case, and when the keeper threw open the doors, West unconsciously exclaimed, A young Mohawk warrior!" The Italians were surprised and mortified with the comparison of

Just criticism.-Portrait of Lord Grantham.

their noblest statue to a wild savage; and West, perceiving the unfavourable impression, proceeded to remove it. He described the Mohawks-the natural elegance, and admirable symmetry of their persons—the elasticity of their limbs, and their motions free and unconstrained. "I have seen them often," he continued, "standing in the very attitude of this Apollo, and pursuing with an intense eye the arrow which they had just discharged from the bow." The Italians cleared their moody brows, and allowed that a better criticism had rarely been pronounced. West was no longer a barbarian.

He waited on Lord Grantham. "I cannot," said he, "produce a finished sketch, like the other students, but I can paint a little, and if you will do me the honour to sit for your portrait, that I may show it to Mengs, you will do me a great kindness." His lordship consented, the portrait was painted, and the name of the artist being kept secret, the picture was placed in the gallery of Crespigni, where artists and amateurs were invited to see it. It was known that Mengs was painting Lord Grantham's portrait, and to him they ascribed the picture, though they thought the colouring surpassed his other compositions. Dance, an Englishman of sense and acuteness, looked at it closely. "The colouring surpasses that of Mengs," he observed, "but the drawing is neither so good nor so fine." The company engaged eagerly in the discussion. Crespigni seized the proper moment, and said, "It is not painted by Mengs." "By whoin, then?" they exclaimed, "for there is no other painter in Rome capable of doing any thing so good." "By that young gentleman," said the other, turning to West, who sat uneasy and agitated. The English held out their hands; the Italians ran and embraced him.

The story of his success with the portrait of Lord Grantham

Munificence of his countrymen.-Travels in Italy.

found its way to Allan, in Philadelphia, when he was at dinner with Governor Hamilton. "I regard this young man,” said the worthy merchant, as an honour to his country; and as he is the first that America has sent out to cultivate the fine arts, he shall not be frustrated in his studies, for I shall send him whatever he may require." "I think with you, sir," said Hamilton, "but you must not have all the honour to yourself. Allow me to unite with you in the responsibility of the credit." Some time afterwards, when West went to take up ten pounds from his agents, the last of the sum with which he had commenced his studies, one of the partners opened a letter, and said, "I am instructed to give you unlimited credit; you will have the goodness to ask for what sum you please." It is not without cause that Mr. Galt says, "The munificence of the Medici was equalled by these American magistrates."

West, with recovered health and a heavier purse, was now able to follow the counsel of Mengs; he visited Florence, Bologna, and Venice.

On the 20th of June, 1763, West arrived in London. Allan, Hamilton, and Smith, his early and steadfast friends, happened to be there they welcomed him with open arms. At this time he had no intention of remaining in England, nor of practising his profession for the time that he stayed. He visited the collections of Hampton Court, Windsor, and Blenheim; residing some time at Reading with Thomas West, the half-brother of his father, and looked at the vanities of Bath in the middle of its season. By degrees he began to love the land and the people. He was introduced to Reynolds; and a letter from Mengs made him acquainted with Wilson. Intercourse with artists, and an examination of their works, awakened his ambition; he consulted no one, but took chambers in Bedford-street, Covent