American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace Negotiations with Great Britain
Benjamin West · 1783
Why it's great
The American diplomats who made peace with Britain after the Revolution stand together in a room: Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John Adams and others. Benjamin West began the painting in 1783, but the British commissioner refused to pose, so it was never finished. The empty space on the right shows the missing man. It's a famous unfinished masterpiece.
🏛️ Part of history
The American Revolution (1765–1783) — West's unfinished painting of the American peace negotiators in Paris, who left a blank space where the British refused to sit.
Where to see it
📍 Winterthur Museum, Garden and LibraryNew Castle County, United States
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Benjamin West was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and moved to Europe in his twenties. He settled in London, where he became the history painter to King George III and later President of the Royal Academy. He taught many American painters. He died in London in 1820.
