The Cleveland Museum of Art
Elizabeth Shewell West and Her Son, Raphael
Description
West was the first American artist to study in Italy, where he spent three years before permanently settling in London. He so admired the artistic ideals of the Italian Renaissance master Raphael that he named his eldest son after him, and he imitated Raphael’s celebrated Madonna of the Chair when composing this tender double portrait of his wife and child.
Provenance
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio; Edward S. Harkness [1874-1940], New York, NY, to the Cleveland Museum of Art; Mary Warden Harkness [1864-1916], New York, NY, by bequest to her brother-in-law Edward S. Harkness; Charles W. Harkness [1860-1916], New York, NY, by bequest to his wife Mary Warden Harkness1; (M. Knoedler & Co., New York, NY, sold to Charles W. Harkness); Henry J. Pfungst [1844-1917], Cleveland Square, London; Castle Smith, London; Grandson of Benjamin West, Jr., to his widow; Benjamin West, Jr. [1772-1848], to his grandson; Benjamin West [1738-1820], London, to his son, Benjamin West, Jr.
Dimensions
66.5 × 66.3 cm
Movement / Period
Accession No
1927.393
Official Citations
Curatorial Affinity Stream
Continuing the Universe of Benjamin West (American, born The Thirteen Colonies, 1738–1820)
American Painting and Sculpture • America • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries
Continuous Discovery