The Death of General Wolfe

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The Death of General Wolfe is a well-known 1770 painting by artist Benjamin West depicting the final moments of James Wolfe during the 1759 Battle of Quebec. It is an oil on canvas of the Neoclassical era.

West depicts General Wolfe as a Christ-like figure. This painting has a triangular composition, made by the top of the flag (as the apex) and the positions of the men. The flag makes a cross with the outstretched arms of the men on the left. It resembles the painting of La Pieta, the Christ who is being taken down.

The depiction of the Native American in the painting has been analyzed in various ways. Some consider it an idealization inspired by the noble savage concept (Fryd, 75).

On the ground in front of Wolfe is his musket, his cartridge box, and bayonet. Wolfe went into battle armed as his men were, although his musket was of higher quality. His dress is also of note. He is wearing a fairly simple red coat, a red waistcoat, red breaches, and a white shirt. Such dress was rather simple, especially for a commanding officer.

The inclusion of Simon Fraser, Lieutennant Colonel of the 78th Fraser Highlanders (behind the Rogers' Ranger, who is wearing green) is interesting, as General Wolfe had always spoken highly of Fraser's regiment, yet Fraser was not at the battle, as he was recovering from wounds received earlier. In the painting, Fraser wears the Fraser tartan, which was probably worn by officers in that regiment.

The clothing West depicted in this scene was highly controversial at the time. Although the event was relatively recent -- only eleven years prior -- its subject matter made it a fitting example of the genre of history painting, for which contemporary dress was unsuitable. During the painting, several influential people, including Sir Joshua Reynolds, instructed him to dress the figures in classical attire, and after its completion, George III refused to purchase it because the clothing compromised the dignity of the event. The work, however, eventually overcame all objections and helped inaugurate more historically accurate practice in history painting.

The Death of General Wolfe is currently in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada as well as the Clements Library at the University of Michigan. There are four known portraits by the author total.

Wolfe's death and the portrayal of that event by Benjamin West make up half of Simon Schama's historical novel, Dead Certainties: Unwarranted Speculations (1991).

Some historians describe the theme of the piece as "Man as the Measure of All Things," a common one for pieces of its time, and note the imagery is evocative of Christ being removed from the Cross.

There are many other themes in this painting, perhaps the most important occurring if one notices the Indian warrior knelt with his chin on his fist, looking at General Wolfe. In art, the touching of ones face with ones hand is a sign of deep thought and intelligence (thus Rodin's The Thinker). This gives us the view of the contemporary idea of the Noble Savage.

[edit] References

• Ayers, William, ed., Picturing History: American Painting 1770-1903, ISBN 0-8478-1745-8
• Fryd, Vivien Green. "Rereading the Indian in Benjamin West's 'Death of General Wolfe.'" American Art, Vol. 9, No. 1. (Spring, 1995), pp. 72-85. Online document from Jstor