About this artwork

This lithograph is widely considered to be the first artist’s lithograph ever made. West, then President of the Royal Academy, was one of a small number of major artists approached by the technique’s inventor, Alois Senefelder (1771–1834), to trial his new process as a means for producing multiple drawings. He termed these early products 'impressions taken from original drawings made on stone'. West has applied the lithographic ink using a pen to draw directly onto the printing stone.

Updated before 2020

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Tell us what you think.

Benjamin West

Benjamin West