Benjamin West
Benjamin West helped establish the fine-art painting tradition in the United States. Born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, West showed artistic talent at a young age. He was encouraged to study history, art, and antiquity in Europe; in 1760 he became the first American artist to study in Italy. In 1763 he went to London, where King George III made him a member of the Royal Academy. West spent the rest of his life in London, keeping an open-door policy for American artists traveling abroad.
What is your greatest love?
This scene shows Cupid being comforted by his mother—the goddess of love, Venus—after a bee has stung his finger. West’s source for the subject was likely the 40th ode attributed to Anacreon, the ancient Greek lyric poet: “Cupid as he lay among / Roses, by a Bee was stung. / Whereupon in anger flying / To his Mother, said thus crying; / Help! O help! your Boy’s a dying. / . . . A winged Snake has bitten me, Which Country people call a Bee.”
Gift of the family of Bernice West Beyers
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