Robert West (painter) facts for kids

Robert West (died November 1770) was an important Irish artist, draughtsman, and teacher. He is best known for starting a famous drawing school in Dublin, which helped many young artists learn their craft. This school later became the National College of Art and Design.

Robert West: Artist and Teacher

Early Life and Training

Robert West was born in Waterford, Ireland. We don't know much about his very early life. Around 1735, he went to the French Academy to study drawing and painting. There, he learned from famous artists like François Boucher and Jean-Baptiste van Loo. It is said that he even won the first medal from the French Academy, which was a big achievement!

One of his paintings from this time, called Thomas Smith and his family, can still be seen today at Upton House in Northampton. Robert West had two sons with his wife, Mary. He passed away in November 1770 in Dublin.

Starting a Famous School

When Robert West returned to Ireland, he opened his own drawing school in Dublin. This was in the late 1730s. The school was located on George's Lane.

Around 1744, a group called the Dublin Society asked West's school to teach students. This was a big step! In 1757, the Dublin Society officially set up a drawing school, and Robert West became its Master (the main teacher). This school grew and eventually became the well-known National College of Art and Design.

By 1747, two of West's students, George Barret and James Forrester, had already won awards. The school moved to a new location off Dame Street in 1750 and officially became part of the Dublin Society. Robert West taught figure drawing, while his assistant, James Mannin, taught landscape and ornament drawing.

His Teaching Style

Robert West was an expert in teaching the French rococo style. He was especially good at teaching life drawing using crayons and chalk. Many artists in Dublin who worked with pastels were influenced by him.

Even in 1811, students were still copying his chalk drawing of his student John O'Keeffe. This shows how good his drawings were for learning! There's also an example of West's work from 1758 at 20 Lower Dominick Street. He decorated a staircase with figures of birds.

In 1761, Robert West received a silver medal for his excellent teaching. This was because 20 of his students won awards from the Dublin Society that year! People said that West's life drawings in chalk were amazing. They were considered perfect models for students to study and helped many people become great draughtsmen (people who draw well).

Later Years

Robert West was the Master of the school from when it started until 1763. At that time, he became unwell and had to step down. Jacob Ennis took over as Master.

Sadly, Ennis passed away in 1770. Robert West became Master of the school again, but he also passed away in the same year. His son, Francis Robert West, and later his grandson, Robert Lucius West, continued his legacy by becoming Masters of the school after him.