The Treaty of William Penn with the Indians 1772

Benjamin West’s 1772 painting, *The Treaty of William Penn with the Indians*, depicts the historical event of the signing of the Treaty of Shackamaxon, where William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, made peace with the Lenape Native American tribe. The painting, now housed at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, is a masterful portrayal of a pivotal moment in American history. West captures the solemnity of the occasion through the figures’ postures and expressions, emphasizing the crucial relationship between European colonists and Native Americans during this period.