The best-loved painting by Benjamin West is The Death of General Wolfe (1770), which hangs in the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. The Last Supper (1786) and The Bard (1778) come next among the canvases readers know best. Our catalogue holds 360 works by Benjamin West: here are the 100 most famous, each with its year, its museum and what makes it memorable.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated October 2026. Each painting on this page can be ordered as an oil reproduction painted by hand on linen canvas, or as a fine art print, made to the size you choose.
The Death of General Wolfe: A Masterpiece of Historical Art Historical Context and Significance "The Death of General Wolfe" by Benjamin West is an iconic painting that captures a pivotal moment in history—the Battle of Quebec on September 13, 1759. This battle, part of the Seven Years' War, decided the fate of France's colonies in North America. General James Wolfe, who led the British forces to victory, was mortally wounded…
Benjamin West's "The Last Supper," painted in 1786, isn’t merely a depiction of a biblical event; it’s a profound exploration of human emotion and the genesis of faith. This monumental oil on canvas, currently residing at the Detroit Institute of Arts, transcends its historical subject matter to become a timeless meditation on betrayal, disbelief, and the quiet dignity of sacrifice. West, a pivotal figure bridging the worlds of Neoclassicism and…
Benjamin West's "The Bard," painted in 1778, is more than just a portrait; it’s a carefully constructed meditation on the role of the poet, the weight of classical learning, and perhaps, a subtle reflection of the burgeoning revolutionary spirit taking hold across the Atlantic. Measuring a modest 22 x 29 cm, this oak panel painting currently resides within the hallowed halls of Tate Britain in London, yet its impact resonates…
Benjamin West's "Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag by the Intrepidity of Colin Fitzgerald" – often referred to as “The Death of the Stag” – is more than just a historical painting; it’s a visceral tableau of courage, loyalty, and the very essence of Highland legend. Completed in 1786, this monumental work, now residing within the Scottish National Gallery, transports us directly into a pivotal…
In St. George and the Dragon, Benjamin West orchestrates a scene of intense movement through a precise diagonal arrangement. The knight, mounted upon a rearing white horse, descends from the upper left toward the dragon positioned in the lower right. This structural choice directs the eye through the center of the struggle, emphasizing the momentum of the descent. The composition is tight and immersive, utilizing a close-up perspective that creates…
Benjamin West's "Death on a Pale Horse," painted in 1796, isn't merely a depiction of a biblical scene; it’s an immersive plunge into the heart of human anxiety and the sublime terror of impending doom. Born amidst the burgeoning intellectual currents of colonial America, West was a painter who defied easy categorization, seamlessly blending Neoclassical restraint with Romantic fervor. This particular work, one of three versions created around the same…
Benjamin West’s “The Death of Hyacinth,” completed in 1771, stands as a cornerstone of British Romanticism's nascent influence on the American artistic landscape. Currently residing within the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this monumental oil painting transcends mere depiction; it embodies an emotional resonance that continues to captivate viewers centuries later.
Benjamin West’s “Portrait of George, Prince of Wales, and Prince Frederick, later Duke of York” (1778) is more than just a likeness; it's a meticulously crafted tableau vivant offering a rare glimpse into the social dynamics and burgeoning political currents of 18th-century Britain. Housed within the walls of The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, this oil on canvas masterpiece transcends mere portraiture, becoming a study in power, familial connection, and the…
The forest air hangs heavy and still, thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient leaves. Within this dark, atmospheric woodland, a profound tragedy unfolds in a single, frozen moment of grief. A woman lies motionless across the lower half of the canvas, her pale skin catching a sharp, theatrical light that seems to pierce through the murky canopy above. She is draped in deep, ultramarine blue fabric, her…
The canvas bears the title The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Benjamin West applied oil to the surface in 1791. This work captures the heavy moment when Archangel Michael drives Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. The figures move away from the sanctuary, leaving the peace of the garden behind.
The painting Joseph Banks by Benjamin West is a stunning example of Neoclassical art, characterized by its use of classical elements and attention to detail. Created in 1773,…
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The air in the room feels heavy, thick with the scent of old stone and impending finality. A man leans forward, his hand pressed against his forehead in…
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The air in the room feels still, held in a quiet suspension as a mother and child lean into one another. Elizabeth West holds her son, Raphael, in…
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The heavy weight of tragedy hangs over King Lear, a work by the artist Benjamin West. Executed in 1788, this oil on canvas captures a moment of profound…
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The composition anchors itself upon a slumped figure, the center of a collapsing world. This man, likely William Pitt the Elder, rests amidst a crowd of mourning dignitaries.…
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A single, steady gaze meets the viewer from the shadows of the late eighteenth century. Dr. Enoch Edwards sits in a three-quarter view, his presence defined by the…
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An intimate Neoclassical portrait, this work captures an adult male artist and a young child within an oval composition. The man, positioned centrally, holds a palette and brush,…
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In 1772, Benjamin West painted The Cave of Despair, a scene drawn from the verses of Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queen. The narrative centers on St. George, known as…
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In this 1782 print, titled Alfred the Third King of Mercia Visiting William d' Albanac, we encounter a scene of historical significance rendered by Benjamin West. The work…
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The oil on canvas titled Sir Thomas Strange, 1756 - 1841. Chief Justice in Madras is a portrait by the artist Benjamin West. Executed in 1799, the work…
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The oil on canvas titled King Lear was executed by the artist Benjamin West in 1788. This work was originally commissioned for the Shakespeare Gallery in London, a…
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Benjamin West, an American artist born in Springfield, PA, produced this Self-Portrait during his later years. Created in the United States/North America, the work dates to about 1818.…
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The portrait of George Harry Grey, Lord Grey (later the Fifth Earl of Stamford) captures a man of quiet authority. Painted by Benjamin West in 1765, the work…
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The Apotheosis of Prince Octavius (1779-83) is an oil on canvas painting by the artist Benjamin West. Created between 1779 and 1783, the work depicts a celestial scene…
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In this 1789 oil on canvas, we find ourselves amidst the chaos of the 1346 Battle of Neville's Cross. The scene is defined by a sense of urgent,…
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An elderly man sits within a wooden chair, positioned slightly off-center in a three-quarter length pose. He wears a dark, heavy coat featuring visible buttons and a crisp…
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The oil on canvas work titled Edward III (1312 1377) with the Black Prince (1330 1376) after the Battle of Crecy (1346) was painted by Benjamin West in…
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Benjamin West executed Prince Adolphus, later Duke of Cambridge, with Princess Mary and Princess Sophia in 1778. This oil on canvas portrait captures three young members of the…
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The scene unfolds in a quiet moment of repose within Cymon and Iphigenia, an oil on panel work by Benjamin West. Created about 1766, the painting captures a…
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The oil on canvas depicts three figures arranged in a triangular formation against a dark, receding background. In the center, a woman is dressed in a gown of…
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This remarkable engraving transports us directly to the tense yet pivotal crossroads of colonial history—the encounter near Muskingum Camp in November 1764. Benjamin West’s depiction is far more…
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Portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson and Karonghyontye – A Testament to Colonial Diplomacy The painting Portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson and Karonghyontye by Benjamin West stands as an…
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In this 1790 oil on canvas, the composition centers on the figure of Jesus Christ, positioned in a relaxed yet commanding pose. He is surrounded by a gathering…
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The gaze of Queen Charlotte meets the viewer through this oil on canvas portrait painting, a work that captures the regal presence of the German-born British queen consort.…
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In the quiet presence of Benjamin West’s 1769 masterpiece, Mr. John Utterson of Fareham, Hampshire, one does not merely observe a portrait; one encounters a profound moment of…
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Study of the Lamentation on the Dead Christ, executed by Benjamin West about 1785, presents a somber and tragic religious subject. The oil study on paper and panel…
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The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, painted in 1791, represents a significant contribution to the Neoclassical art movement. Created by the Anglo-American history painter Benjamin West,…
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The Portrait of Sir John Griffin Griffin is an oil on canvas painted by the artist Benjamin West. Created in 1772, this work captures the likeness of Sir…
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The Portrait of Captain Christopher Codrington Bethell is an oil on canvas painted by Benjamin West in 1769. The sitter, a man who held a seat in the…
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The sun warms the fields in Harvesting at Windsor, a genre painting by Benjamin West. Created in 1795, the scene captures a moment of intense activity amidst the…
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The Conversion of St. Paul is a significant work by Benjamin West, executed in 1786 CE. This painting emerged from the artist's period in England, a time when…
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In this 1774 oil painting, titled Cupid, Stung by a Bee, Is Cherished by his Mother, we encounter a work by the American artist Benjamin West. Born in…
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In this intimate group portrait, The Artist and His Family, painted by Benjamin West about 1772, captures a quiet moment of domestic connection. The scene brings together the…
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In this exquisite portrait from 1772, Benjamin West captures more than just a likeness; he invites us into the private, intellectual sanctuary of Katherine Clayton, Lady Howard de…
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Saint Michael and the Dragon is an oil on canvas painted by Benjamin West in 1797. The work presents a religious and heroic subject, capturing a celestial struggle…
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The four subjects that return most often on these canvases, each with its best-loved example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Benjamin West | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Yale Center for British Art |
New Haven | 16 | Paetus and Arria, Elizabeth West (née Shewell), and Her son Raphael, The Death of Chatham |
 Royal Collection |
London | 27 | Edward III (1312 1377) with the Black Prince (1330 1376) after the Battle of Crecy (1346), St. Peter Denying Christ, Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) with Charlotte, Princess Royal (1766-1828) |
 Art Institute of Chicago |
Chicago | 4 | The Death of Procris, Queen Philippa at the Battle of Neville's Cross, Portrait of a Man |
 National Gallery of Art |
Washington | 10 | The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, Portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson and Karonghyontye, Cupid, Stung by a Bee, Is Cherished by his Mother |
 Detroit Institute of Arts |
Detroit | 7 | The Last Supper, Death on a Pale Horse, King Lear |
 New York Historical Society |
New York City | 4 | Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827), Thetis Bringing the Armor to Achilles |
 Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco |
San Francisco | 3 | George Harry Grey, Lord Grey (later the Fifth Earl of Stamford), Cupid Stung by a Bee |
 Cleveland Museum of Art |
Cleveland | 3 | Elizabeth Shewell West and Her Son, Raphael, British Manufactory; A Sketch |
A single, steady gaze meets the viewer from the shadows of the late eighteenth century. Dr. Enoch Edwards sits in a three-quarter view, his presence defined by the…
The air in the room feels heavy, thick with the scent of old stone and impending finality. A man leans forward, his hand pressed against his forehead in…
The Death of General Wolfe: A Masterpiece of Historical Art Historical Context and Significance "The Death of General Wolfe" by Benjamin West is an iconic painting that captures…
Benjamin West's "The Last Supper," painted in 1786, isn’t merely a depiction of a biblical event; it’s a profound exploration of human emotion and the genesis of faith.…
Benjamin West's "Death on a Pale Horse," painted in 1796, isn't merely a depiction of a biblical scene; it’s an immersive plunge into the heart of human anxiety…
Benjamin West, an American artist born in Springfield, PA, produced this Self-Portrait during his later years. Created in the United States/North America, the work dates to about 1818.…
The Death of General Wolfe (1770), Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. The Last Supper (1786) and The Bard (1778) follow.
Benjamin West, born in 1738, was 32 years old: The Death of General Wolfe dates from 1770.
The Death of General Wolfe, The Last Supper, The Bard, Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag by the Intrepidity of Colin Fitzgerald (, St. George and the Dragon, Death on a Pale Horse, The Death of Hyacinth, Portrait of George, Prince of Wales, and Prince Frederick, later Duke of York, The Death of Procris and The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Each canvas in the ranking above comes with its year and its museum.
360 works by Benjamin West are in our catalogue, dated 1750 to 1818.
Mostly in Yale Center for British Art (New Haven), Royal Collection (London) and Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago); the list above names each museum and its canvases.
In 1770s, which gave 30 of the 100 works on this page, The Death of General Wolfe among them.
The earliest canvas here is Portrait of Dr. Enoch Edwards (1750); the latest is Self-Portrait (1818).
Man (21), Woman (17) and Horse (7), across the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, used in 34 of the 100 works on this page.
Neoclassicism, as the canvases on this page show.
The Yale Center for British Art, New Haven holds 13 of the works on this page, among them Paetus and Arria, Elizabeth West (née Shewell), and Her son Raphael and The Death of Chatham.
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered from its own page as an oil reproduction painted by hand, or as a fine art print, in the size you choose.
