Royal Patronage, Historical Portraiture, and the Vicissitudes of Fashion: Benjamin West’s Portrait of Prince William and His Elder Sister, Princess Sophia
With Dr. Douglas Fordham, Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Virginia
Thu, Dec 1, 6–7 pm
Leslie Cheek Theater
VMFA’s recent acquisition of Prince William and His Elder Sister, Princess Sophia provides a unique opportunity to reassess the work of Benjamin West, an artist who is often described as the father of American art. This particular portrait highlights a very different role for the artist as one of King George III’s favorite painters. This portrait commission arrived at a pivotal moment in West’s career as he navigated the conflicting demands of Royal Academician versus Royal Favorite, and of history painter versus portraitist. Ultimately, this painting integrates Royal patronage, historical portraiture, and the vicissitudes of fashion into a single, remarkable work of art.
This program serves as the keynote lecture of the Virginia Tech Student Symposium.
Presented in collaboration with the Arts@Virginia Tech