Robert West

Robert West (died November 1770) was an Irish artist, draughtsman and teacher. Life and family He was born in Waterford, where his father was an alderman. Very little is known of his early life. He studied drawing and painting at the French Academy under François Boucher and Jean-Baptiste van Loo around 1735, and it is claimed he was awarded the first medal of the French Academy. Upton house, Northampton holds an oil painting from this period signed by West entitled Thomas Smith and his family. West had 2 sons with his wife Mary. West died in November 1770 at Lurgan Street, Dublin. Career Upon his return to Ireland, West founded a drawing school in George's Lane, Dublin in the late 1730s. Under the influence of Samuel Maddne, the school was commissioned by the Dublin Society to teach pupils from around 1744. In 1757, the Dublin Society established a drawing school, with West as Master, which would later develop into the National College of Art and Design. In 1747, 2 of West's pupils, George Barret and James Forrester, won awards. The school moved to Shaw's Court off Dame Street in 1750, and officially became part of the Dublin Society. West taught at the figure school and James Mannin, his assistant, taught landscape and ornament.