# Elizabeth Shewell West and Her Son, Raphael

**Benjamin West** (American, born The Thirteen Colonies, 1738–1820)  
c. 1770  
oil on canvas  
Framed: 88 x 87.5 x 9 cm (34 5/8 x 34 7/16 x 3 9/16 in.); Unframed: 66.5 x 66.3 cm (26 3/16 x 26 1/8 in.)

Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1927.393. [The museum's record](https://clevelandart.org/art/1927.393).

## About this work

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.

_Text from the Cleveland Museum of Art._

Benjamin West painted this in about 1770, aged about 27. It is now at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

### How it was made

- **Oil paint.** Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.

### [Benjamin West](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/benjamin-west)

American, born The Thirteen Colonies, 1738–1820

West grew up in Pennsylvania and, after three years in Italy, settled in London in 1763, never returning to America. He became history painter to George III and, in 1792, succeeded Joshua Reynolds as President of the Royal Academy. His The Death of General Wolfe broke with convention by showing a modern event in contemporary dress. His London studio welcomed generations of American artists, including Charles Willson Peale, Gilbert Stuart and Thomas Sully.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Painting
- Culture: United States
- The artist was about 27
- Real size: about 26 × 26 in (67 × 66 cm). The 18 × 24 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Colour: black
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/521.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/521/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/elizabeth-shewell-west-and-her-son-raphael-cma-109245).