The Life, Studies, And Works Of Benjamin West, Esq. President Of The Royal Academy Of London, Composed From Materials Furnished By Himself, By John Galt, Esq. Author Of The Life And Administration Of Cardinal Wolsey, &c.
Vol. I: [Half-t., frontis., t.p.] - [Divisional title, 'Part I. The Life And Studies Of Benjamin West, Esq. &c. &c. Prior to his Arrival in England'] - [Dedic.] - Preface - Contents - [Text]. - Vol. II: [T.p., dedic.] - Preface - Introduction - Contents. Part II. - [Divisional title, 'Part II. The Life And Works Of Benjamin West, Esq. &c. &c. Subsequent to his Arrival in England'] - [Text] - Appendix; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
The frontispiece portrait of West is captioned, 'Benjamin West, Esqr. President of the Royal Academy, Engraved by W.T. Fry. from an Original Picture painted by Himself in 1793'.
It carries the publisher's imprint, 'London, Published July 12th. 1820, by T. Cadell, in the Strand.'
The printers of the first volume are named on the verso of the half-title as 'A. and R. Spottiswoode, Printers-Street, London' but in the colophon as 'Nichols, Son, and Bentley, Red Lion Passage, Fleet Street, London'. Those of the second volume are named on the verso of the title-page and in the colophon as A. and R. Spottiswoode.
The first volume is dedicated by the author to Alexander Gordon; the second, by the author to Simon McGillivray.
References
Benjamin West: American painter at the English court [exhibition catalogue] (1989); R.C. Alberts, Benjamin West: a biography (1978).
Summary Note
The biography is followed by an Appendix consisting of: 'The Account of Pictures painted by Benjamin West for His Majesty ...'; 'A catalogue of the Works of Mr. West'; 'National Monument ... Mr. West's Letter to Sir George Beaumont'; a letter from 'S. McG-'; 'The Funeral Of Mr. West'.
The last, unnumbered, page carries a publisher's advertisement, 'Lately Published, By T. Cadell And W. Davies, Strand, Booksellers To The Royal Academy'.
Binding Note
19th-century half black morocco, blue cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Life And Works Of Benjamin West.' and 'R.A.'
Painters - United States - Great Britain - History - 18th century - 19th century
Biography - Art history - Great Britain - 19th century
Publishers' advertisements - Great Britain - London - 19th century