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Benjamin West (1738-1820)

A design for the Chapel of Revealed Religion c. 1780

Pen, wash and watercolour | 29.3 x 48.0 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 918992

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  • A pen and ink and watercolour design for decoration of a window wall in the Chapel planned by George III at Windsor Castle window. With five blank niches with figures above, and scenes from the New Testament.

    The American-born history painter Benjamin West enjoyed many years of patronage under George III, and was President of the Royal Academy and Surveyor of the King's Pictures. In the 1780s he was involved with the refurbishment of St George's Chapel, Windsor, making designs for stained glass and for an altarpiece that were removed in the 19th century. In 1780, West was also commissioned by the King to produce paintings for another Royal Chapel at Windsor. The intended location of this chapel remains unclear, and the project was never completed, with the King withdrawing funding in 1801.

    West called this project 'the great work of my life', working on the paintings for over twenty years and exhibiting all of the eighteen paintings he executed for it at the Royal Academy, but they were never installed in the chapel, instead remaining in his studio until his death. West described the series as illustrating "the progress of Revealed Religion, from its commencement to its completion" (John Galt, The Life and Works of Benjamin West, 1820). The decorative scheme included moments from the Old and New Testaments. West produced many preparatory studies and oil sketches for the project. For more information on the Chapel, see Jerry D. Meyer, 'Benjamin West's Chapel of Revealed Religion: A Study in Eighteenth-Century Protestant Religious Art', The Art Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 2 (Jun., 1975), pp. 247-265.

    Provenance

    Purchased at Sotheby's sale of 22 March 1979
    As part of ongoing provenance research, this work has been identified as having uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933–45. Royal Collection Trust welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

  • Medium and techniques

    Pen, wash and watercolour

    Measurements

    29.3 x 48.0 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Other number(s)

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