Raphael Lamar West

Raphael Lamar West was an artist active across the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth, with documented works spanning the period 1769 to 1802. His practice focused primarily on draftsmanship and printmaking, with museum collections currently representing four drawings and four related Raphael Lamar West prints.

West’s subjects encompass figural studies, narrative scenes, and landscape compositions. The holdings include the focused academic study A Seated Male Nude with His Hands Crossed over His Head, alongside dramatic or literary illustrations such as Orlando Rescuing Oliver from the Lion. His interest in dynamic natural settings is evident in works like A wooded and rocky landscape, and the related sketches of figures in isolation, including Brigand Lying Under a Tree and Bandit Beneath a Tree.

The historical and artistic importance of West’s output is established by its inclusion in major American museum collections. Works by the artist are preserved by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The longevity and accessibility of these pieces, particularly the prints, mean they are often cataloged as public domain material. The preservation of these works ensures continued scholarly access, frequently available as high-quality prints for study and appreciation.