King George III also greatly admired the painting, and said, “There! I am cheated out of a fine canvas by listening to other people. But you shall make a copy of it for me.”
And yet the critics tell us that West, with all his love for truth in dress, took even a greater artist’s license when he painted this picture. He represented men as standing near Wolfe (the two generals, Monckton and Barré) who were not there at all. These two men were fatally wounded in the same battle, but in another part of the field. Surgeon Adair, too, who is bending over the dying hero, was in another part of the country at the time. The Indian warrior, who intently watches the dying general to see if he is equal to the Indian in fortitude and bravery, was, it is claimed, an imaginary person.
But a far greater number of critics uphold West and consider his painting the more valuable because he has brought into prominence a number of the important men of that time, and linked their names in memory with that of General Wolfe and with the cause they represented.
It is interesting to note the manner in which the artist has grouped his figures in the foreground. We can separate them into at least three distinct groups, each complete in itself, yet held together by the direction of their gaze and the position of their bodies. For a moment these brave men have forgotten, in grief at the loss of a beloved companion and hero, even the joy of victory for a great cause.
The interest is centered about the dying general in many different ways—the light, the position of other figures, the direction of their gaze, and his position in the picture. Our attention and interest might remain with the group in the foreground of the picture but that it is drawn, for a moment, to the figure in the middle distance running toward us and from that figure to the mass in the background which, though vaguely outlined, is still distinct enough to give us the impression of troops in action.
Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Why did the life of General Wolfe appeal so strongly to the artist Benjamin West? What great obstacles did General Wolfe have to overcome? Tell about his first campaign. Describe his personal appearance. Why did William Pitt choose Wolfe for an important office? What feeling did this cause among the other generals? What did George III say about General Wolfe? Explain the difficulties to be overcome in capturing Quebec. How did the English effect a landing? Where was the battle fought? Which army was victorious? What events aided the English in gaining this victory? What new idea did West introduce in this picture? Who opposed him at first? To what did this change lead? What can you say of the composition of this picture? What is its value as history?
The story of the artist. “What is thee doing, Benjamin?” A small boy, hearing this question, suddenly becomes quite confused and embarrassed as he tries to cover up a sheet of paper he has in his hand. His mother and sister, dressed in the severely plain clothing of the Quakers, are standing behind him, waiting for an answer. The boy looks up timidly, his face turning red as he answers hesitatingly, “N-nothing.”
Of course this does not satisfy his mother, and she speaks more sharply as she asks him again what he is doing and what he has in his hand. The boy, a little fellow of six, hands her a sheet of paper and nervously rocks the cradle in which his baby sister is sleeping. He expects to be punished, for he has done something that must be wrong, for he never heard of any one else doing it.
The mother and sister study the paper carefully, and find only a drawing done in red and black ink. They recognize it at once as a picture of the baby sister Sally, sound asleep, and they are pleased in spite of themselves. The mother asks him many questions, and he tells her that as he was taking care of his baby sister he had suddenly felt a great desire to copy the sleeping child’s face. He had found an old quill pen and some ink, and they could see what he had been doing. The mother looks pleased, but says, “I do not know what the Friends would say to such like.” However, Benjamin feels encouraged, and determines to try again soon.
This story is often told in giving the history of American art, because this same Benjamin West was our first native American artist. Other American men had copied European paintings, but his was the first original work in America.