Isabel Hambric
10/20/16
Period 6
Art Analysis of The Death of General Wolfe
The Death of General Wolfe, a realistic painting by Benjamin West, depicts the historical event of the British General James Wolfe’s death in the French and Indian War. The most vibrant section of the painting is focused upon the subject Wolfe, the red on his uniform is a representation of the British, while the brightness that appears upon him almost like a spotlight is a hint at his God like actions. The dullest section of the painting is in the depths of the panting, the blacks in the sky seem to hint at the defeat of the French and the reality of British becoming a power. Although Wolfe is painted in very vibrant red, his men are not all dressed similarly. The
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The painting definitely was received as controversial for it’s time but was also very admired. West was urged by others to not depict the outfits accurately to historical context because it could disrupt the heroism of the act and instead dress the objects in togas. Since West kept to the reality of dress during that colonial period, many were shocked including King George who refused to buy the painting over the dress. During this time subjects of paintings were usually over religion, seeing that it was only painted eleven years after the actual event West created a whole new category for paintings. This piece of art tells me that army’s would have a close relationship with their general as shown by the surrounding men of Wolfe around his dying body, the military had not yet taken advantage of guerilla warfare as a typical approach as shown by the vibrant colors and location of the war, and although the British men knew they had won a loss of a hero to them was painful as shown by their faces. Today people view the painting as an important and beautiful piece, which transitions the subjects of paintings and their style from the moment Wolfe, unveiled this piece. Although, in present day the painting still receives ridicule for it’s unrealistic depiction of his death because only one man was known to be with Wolfe when he was passing