Description:

Forty years after painting a portrait in 1776, Benjamin West bills the client's son for the balance due on the commission!

BENJAMIN WEST (1738-1820) Fine content Autograph Letter Signed, "Benjn West," 1 page, 7.25" x 9", "Newman Street," [London], February 26, 1816, with integral transmittal leaf addressed in his hand to "Mr. Lawrence," concerning a painting he had completed for his father in 1776 who had only partly completed payment for the commission. Within the letter is an additional Autograph Document (unsigned), 1 page, 7.25" x 9", "Newman Street," February 27, 1816, being an invoice for balance due on the aforementioned painting as well as the cost for restoration of one of his other works. Expected folds, very light spotted toning, else fine condition.

West's letter to Lawrence reads, in full: "Agreeable to your request, I have examined the Book in which I have registered all the Pictures painted by me within the last fifty years: I have therefore enclosed a Statement of the expence [sic] which the Picture of your much respected Mother, and Sister are in the characters of Faith and Hope from Spencers Poems of the Fa[i]ry Queen. Should the charge of expences on that Picture - and the other of Una with the Lion, meet your approbation - I will give orders for them to be conveyed to where you may direct - in the course of to morrow, or Thursday, most agreeable to yourself— I do suppose the Frame belonging to the Picture Una, must be in the possession of Mrs Dehaney – and I do not find the other ever had one."

West's invoice of the same date observes that Lawrence's father, "Mr. Lawrence of Jama[i]ca," was charged £84 for the Faith & Hope, "...Painted in the Year 1776," but had paid only £45 "on account," while £39 was still due. This work, which is also known as Fidelia and Speranza is presently part of the collections of the Timken Museum of Art in San Diego.

To that amount West added £12-12-0 "To lining and repairing the Picture of Una and the Lion." This work, fully titled, Una and the Lion (Mary Hall in the character of Una), was completed in 1771 and is now housed at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut.

Provenance: The Estate of Charles E. Sigety.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000