The Battle of the Boyne- By Benjamin West

• Artist: Benjamin West
• Medium: Engraving- By John Hall
• Publish Details: Lodon: B. West, J. Hall and W. Woollett, 1784, original hand coloring
• Measurements: Approx. 19 3/4 x 25 1/2 in. (sheet), 23 3/4 x 29 in. (mat)
• Conditions: Excellent Condition

Benjamin West (1738–1820) — The Battle of the Boyne

A landmark print after one of the most important history paintings by America's first internationally celebrated artist.

Commissioned by Richard, Lord Grosvenor, and published in 1784 with a dedication to George, Prince of Wales, this engraving reproduces Benjamin West's monumental canvas commemorating the decisive victory of William III over the deposed James II at the River Boyne on 1 July 1690. As Historical Painter to George III, West understood precisely how to celebrate a triumph of Protestant succession—his composition places William of Orange, astride his famous white horse, at the very center of the action, surrounded by Prince George of Denmark, the Duke of Ormond, and the wounded Duke of Schomberg being carried from the field. In the distant background, the small figure tumbling from his horse is the Reverend George Walker, Protestant Rector of Donaghmore—a poignant reminder of the religious stakes that defined the conflict.

Note that James II himself is deliberately absent; he remained away from the battlefield, and West's omission underscores the painting's function as a memorial to Protestant deliverance rather than a documentary record of both sides. Ever since that July day, the color orange and the Twelfth of July have marked the identity of Irish Protestantism—making this image as culturally resonant today as it was politically charged in 1784.

The print's provenance is impeccable. West painted the original for Lord Grosvenor, and it has descended through that family to the present day. The 1784 publication was carefully timed and dedicated to the future George IV, cementing its status as a work of both artistic and courtly significance.

For collectors of British historical prints, Irish history, or the work of Benjamin West—who transformed history painting in London and trained a generation of American artists—this is a rare opportunity to acquire a print that documents not only a pivotal military engagement but the visual politics of eighteenth-century Britain.