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1 of 253523 objects
Benjamin West (1738-1820)
The Ascension [The Chapel of Revealed Religion] c. 1780
Black and white chalk on blue paper | 16.8 x 12.4 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 924744
![The Ascension [The Chapel of Revealed Religion]](https://col.rct.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rctr-scale-1300-500/public/collection-online/0/b/847136-1543577752.jpg?itok=rfsCfA65 "The Ascension [The Chapel of Revealed Religion]")
Benjamin West (1738-1820)
The Ascension [The Chapel of Revealed Religion] c. 1780
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A black and white chalk drawing on blue paper, apparently for the Ascension in the centre of the north side of George III's projected Royal Chapel at Windsor Castle. See 917896.a, 917896.b and 917896.c for other sketches by West for the same work. Mounted on a yellow wash-line mount, inscribed on the verso in pen and ink: The ascension Benjamin West [possible signature].
The American-born history painter Benjamin West enjoyed many years of patronage under George III, and was President of the Royal Academy and Surveyor of the King's Pictures. In the 1780s he was involved with the refurbishment of St George's Chapel, Windsor, making designs for stained glass and for an altarpiece that were removed in the 19th century. In 1780, West was also commissioned by the King to produce paintings for another Royal Chapel at Windsor. The intended location of this chapel remains unclear, and the project was never completed, with the King withdrawing funding in 1801.
West called this project 'the great work of my life', working on the paintings for over twenty years and exhibiting all of the eighteen paintings he executed for it at the Royal Academy, but they were never installed in the chapel, instead remaining in his studio until his death. West described the series as illustrating "the progress of Revealed Religion, from its commencement to its completion" (John Galt, The Life and Works of Benjamin West, 1820). The decorative scheme included moments from the Old and New Testaments. West produced many preparatory studies and oil sketches for the project. Drawings of thefull cycle of the north wall are RCINs 917895 and 917861, pencil drawings of the painted scenes from the Life of Christ are RCINs 917896.a-h and RCIN 925172, and a more finished version of the north wall scheme is in the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven (B1977.14.4356), and was probably a modello made to show to the King. For more information on the Chapel, see Jerry D. Meyer, 'Benjamin West's Chapel of Revealed Religion: A Study in Eighteenth-Century Protestant Religious Art', The Art Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 2 (Jun., 1975), pp. 247-265.Provenance
Purchased at Christie's 10 July 1984 sale
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Creator(s)
Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Black and white chalk on blue paper
Measurements
16.8 x 12.4 cm (sheet of paper)
Category
Object type(s)
Other number(s)
RL 24744
