Benjamin West

Born in rural Pennsylvania in 1738, Benjamin West’s artistic journey began with a childhood anecdote: his mother’s kiss upon seeing his crayon portrait of his sister, Sally, which he later said 'made me a painter.' Largely self-taught, West quickly found patrons who recognized his talent. He refined his skills painting portraits in Pennsylvania, even learning techniques from the famous painter John Wollaston. A pivotal early work, *Death of Socrates*, painted in 1756, demons…