The light in this portrait, attributed to Thomas Lawrence, falls directly on Benjamin West's pale face, making it stand out against the deep red background. The dark tones of his coat are offset by the bright white cravat and the striking touch of light blue in the stole, giving the oil on canvas a luminous quality despite its restrained palette. Painted around 1818 or later, this bust-length image of the prominent American artist may have been created when West was advanced in age, or it could be a more freely painted copy by Lawrence or a pupil after a full-length version. Its confident brushwork would complement a traditionally furnished study or library.