Benjamin West, P.R.A.

Offered by West's sons to the United States in 1826 and subsequently sold by them, London, Robins, 22-25 May 1829, lot 57 (to Dolman for £47.5.0);
Arthur Wilkin, Cousley Wood, Woodhurst, Sussex;
With David David Inc., Philadelphia, 1970;
With Sloan and Schatzberg, Inc, New York;
With Trafalgar Galleries, London, 1977, from whom acquired by the present owner

London, 125 Pall Mall, 1816, no. 4;
London, 125 Pall Mall, 1818, no. 3;
London, West's Gallery, 1821, no. 86, and 1822-28, no. 136.

'Notable Works of Art on the Market', in The Burlington Magazine, CXXIX, December 1977, reproduced pl. XLII;
J. Dillenberger, Benjamin West: The Context of His Life's Work, with Particular Attention to Paintings with Religious Subject Matter, Including a correlated version of early nineteenth-century lists of West's paintings, exhibitions, and sales records of his works, and also a current checklist of his major religious works, San Antonio 1977, p. 124, pl. 85;
H. von Erffa and A. Staley, The Paintings of Benjamin West, New Haven and London 1986, p. 387, no. 399, reproduced on p. 141.

The colour is brighter than the catalogue illustration suggests. The painting is in very good condition, with no apparent damage or loss of paint. There is some extremely minor bitumen separation in the darker pigments, which is only visible under close inspection and does not detract from the integrity of the picture, but otherwise the paint appears to be in excellent, original condition and retains much of the original impasto. The panel appears to be in very good condition and is retaining a flat and stable support for the picture. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a small amount of very minor retouching to small surface scratches, in the lower left, as well as one small areas of strengthening also in the lower left. Held in a gilded wooden frame with no obvious visible damage. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present work illustrates the seventh verse of the first chapter of Revelations: 'Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen.' To this scene West also adds the four beasts described in chapter four of Revelation. Although some of the imagery is related to that found in a small oil sketch of the Resurrection (Philadelphia Museum of Art), it is not a reworking or repetition of any other known work by the artist. As such it is one of the last independent compositions of any importance to have been started and carried through by the artist.