Alexander’s Confidence with his Physician Philip c. 1770

Benjamin West made this drawing of Alexander the Great sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century, using pen and brown wash over graphite on paper. West was working in a neoclassical style, but this piece feels informal, more like a sketch than a finished work. The quick, fluid lines of the pen and the translucent washes create a sense of immediacy, almost as if we’re watching the scene unfold. The monochromatic palette focuses attention on the play of light and shadow, which gives the figures volume and depth. West’s handling of the wash is particularly skillful; he uses it to create subtle gradations of tone and to define the folds of the drapery. In a painting like this, material and process aren’t just about technique. The speed and efficiency of the drawing medium is an essential part of the message. It is less about high-finish, and more about capturing a fleeting moment of drama. West understood this, and put the qualities of his materials to good use.