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October 10, 1738 - March 11, 1820) was an Anglo-American painter of historical scenes around and after the time of the American War of Independence. He was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, in a house that is now on the campus of Swarthmore College, as the tenth child of an innkeeper. From 1746 to 1759, West worked in Pennsylvania, mostly painting portraits. In 1760, sponsored by Smith and William Allen, reputed to be the wealthiest man in Philadelphia, West traveled to Italy where he expanded his repertoire by copying the works of Italian painters such as Titian and Raphael. In 1763, West moved to England, where he was commissioned by King George III to create portraits of members of the royal family.
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