Robert West, Draughtsman
(d. 1770)
Draughtsman
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
Was born in Waterford, the son of an alderman in that city. He studied art in Paris under Boucher and Vanloo. Returning to Ireland, he established a drawing school in George's Lane, and in, or before, 1744 was engaged by the Dublin Society to instruct twelve boys in his academy. In 1757 the Society, having taken a house in Shaw's Court, off Dame Street, established there a school of drawing and appointed West its master. Here he taught with conspicuous success for some years, many artists who afterwards became famous receiving their early instruction from him. In 1763 he became mentally deranged, and on the 10th May of that year Jacob Ennis was appointed to fill his place. On the death of the latter in 1770 West was re-appointed to the post on 11th October, but died the same year.
West was an accomplished draughtsman, and eminently successful as a teacher; but he does not appear to have used the brush. A portrait of "Lawrence Richardson" after a drawing by him, was engraved in mezzotint by R. Purcell in 1748, and published by Pat Monaghan in Bride Street, Dublin. He was father of Francis Robert West, who succeeded him as master in the Dublin Society's School.
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