Athenaeum on Richard Westall

The Athenaeum no 447 Dec 17, 1836 p889
Richard Westall RA
The decease of this aimiable man has been for some time expected; and it is unhappily but too well known that, although Mr Westall had attained to an advanced period of his life, he was, during the greater, and particularly the latter part of it, so much oppressed by pecuniary difficulties, as to leave no doubt that mental distress must have contributed to accelerate it.
Mr Westall possessed an elegant and accomplished mind, and was the author of some poems of considerable merit in early life. As an artist, his taste inclined rather to the romantic than the classical. His illustrations of the native bards were conceived with a true poetical feeling, and he entered happily into the genius of his author. He was, perhaps, second only to the immortal Stothard in the abundance and popularity of his designs; and it is difficult to estimate the aid that has been given to the diffusion of elegant literature during the last fifty years, by the charms and force of the beautiful illustrations that our artists have generally supplied.
Mr Westall chiefly excelled in drawings; his oil pictures, though possessing force and beauty, generally skilfully composed and brilliant in colour, will not stand the test of comparison with works containing the true principles of Art. At the time when Lawrence became a leading star in our Exhibitions, Westall was in possession of the town; and he found in the youthful aspirant and future President a formidable competitor; the lead, however, which he till then enjoyed, may be said to have been fairly won; as he, in great measure, the parent of the style of drawing in portrait and poetical composition, which has since brought so high a degree of perfection in our school. If memory does not mislead us, Downman's very tame, not to say lame, productions, though then highly esteemed, were until Westall appeared, the best works to be found of their class in our Academy.
Mr Westall was among the artists employed upon the Shakespeare Gallery & Bowyer's History of England; and several fine pictures came at that time from his hand, proving, to our minds, that had encouragement and demand for such works continued, he might have attained to a high standard of excellence in the historical department of the art. But, unhappily, as is well known, our artists were compelled to submit to the very inferior occupation of working for the booksellers and publishers; and the once lofty arts of design have been reduced to the minutest minimum. From the great facility with which Mr Westall's ready talent enabled him to produce book designs of this character, he was led into a greater degree of mannerism than any of his contemporaries, and which proved highly prejudicial to his fame and reputation. His designs of Milton Paradise Lost & Regained, published by Boydell, are well known, and will be appreciated by every judicious admirer of art, for grace, and sometimes sublimity. A catalogue of the esteemed works of this artist would clearly evince how largely he has contributed at once to excite and gratify that taste of embellishment which is now thought indispensible "to point the moral, and adorn the tale".
Few men have been more universally esteemed in private life than Mr Westall; and, although retiring in his habits, his correct and gentlemanly manners and character always proved a passport to the best society.