Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag by the Intrepidity of Colin Fitzgerald 1786

Curator: Benjamin West painted this historical scene, titled "Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag by the Intrepidity of Colin Fitzgerald," in 1786. The medium is oil on canvas. Editor: What a dramatically staged event! The frantic energy is almost palpable; I can almost hear the clamor of hooves and shouts. There is some tension, however. What materials did he have at his disposal and how would this kind of large format be made? Curator: The large format certainly contributed to the theatrical effect, didn't it? West secured his reputation producing similarly large canvases with depictions of heroic historical events, effectively crafting grand narratives and cementing his own career along with a sense of British cultural identity. He used history painting, previously a genre used for religious themes, for secular, nationalistic subjects. Editor: Thinking about the materials used gives an impression of the amount of physical labor put into producing works of this size. One can see the underpainting as well as visible brushwork giving shape and dimension to figures. And it isn’t just his hand that is apparent: think of all who prepped and stretched the canvas. Curator: Absolutely, the material production can’t be divorced from its societal impact! It also echoes the Romanticism movement’s ideals—think dramatic landscapes underscoring powerful, emotionally charged historical episodes. Editor: Indeed! The way he’s built the scene feels deliberately constructed. How does he bring across a sense of labor beyond merely illustrating a historical anecdote? I am quite aware of how he made the work; more particularly how the artist has skillfully managed his tools. Curator: His composition guides the viewer. Observe how the chaotic scrum unfolds around King Alexander III—who at the painting's center seems oddly static amidst the action—Colin Fitzgerald's dynamic intervention directs the energy, literally deflecting the stag's attack and ensuring the continuation of the Scottish monarchy, thereby shaping British history. The scene, bathed in light, practically screams heroism! It's designed to legitimize and ennoble the powerful patrons who commissioned the work. Editor: Well said. I found that analysis rather insightful by revealing not only the making but the conditions that determine how we experience the product of artmaking itself.