Benjamin West

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Benjamin West
1738-1820
Study for "Saul and the Witch of Endor"
Pen, brown ink, and brown chalk, with brown wash, over preliminary drawing in black chalk.
7 7/8 x 12 1/2 inches (199 x 317 mm)
Purchased as the gift of Mrs. Robert H. Charles.
1970.11:15
Notes: 

Watermark: Golding & Snelgrove 1812.
The drawing illustrates the Old Testament story in the first book of Samuel. It is related to the painting, "Saul and the Witch of Endor," 1777, the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut.

Provenance: 
Estate of the artist; by descent; Harry Margary, the great-grandson of Maria West (daughter of Raphael Lamar West, and granddaughter of Benjamin West); Thos. Agnew and Sons, Ltd., London; from whom purchased 60 drawings, 17 June 1964, and 197 drawings, 15 February 1965, by M. Knoedler and Co., Inc.; from whom purchased 257 drawings by the Morgan Library in 1970.
Associated names: 

Margary, Harry, former owner.
Charles, Robert H., Mrs., donor.

Bibliography: 

Kraemer, Ruth S. Drawings by Benjamin West and his son Raphael Lamar West. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975, no. 94, repr.

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