Study for The Battle of La Hogue 1778

This is Benjamin West's study for "The Battle of La Hogue," made with pen and brown ink. West, an Anglo-American artist, gained prominence painting historical and religious scenes during a time of revolution and shifting colonial powers. This sketch depicts the naval Battle of La Hogue in 1692, a conflict that saw the English and Dutch defeat the French. Think about what it meant for West to portray such an event. As an American in London, West was caught between national identities, and his art often served as a means of negotiating these complexities. How did he reconcile his American identity with his role as a painter of British history? Consider the emotional weight of depicting warfare. While the image presents a scene of grand naval conflict, it also hints at the individual human stories of violence, loss, and bravery. West transforms history into a deeply human narrative, reflective of his own negotiations of identity and belonging.