Contingency

            Benjamin West painted Christ Rejected in the year 1811. During that time a lot was going on in the world around him. Napoleon was attempting to conquer Europe having vast effects on the minds of many. West, trying to ease the internal suffering of the afflicted, began his most famous painting. It was said to be “most indubitably the grandest performance of modern times” (Alberts, 367). West wanted the people of Europe to know that they would be saved.  Someone would sacrifice himself to stop the fighting and to ease the suffering of all Europeans. We feel that West’s painting would bring peace and serenity to its viewers. Perhaps the Reverend Mr. Smith said it best, “ I can preach you no better sermon than this picture” (Alberts, 367).  This only accentuates the statement that West was painting this picture for the savior of the people.  He knew that somehow, someway the end would come and that is exactly what this picture showed.  Little did he know when he started this painting in 1811 that upon its finish so would come the end of Napoleon and the suffering that he put on other people.  Perhaps this painting had an unwritten affect on Napoleon and his army.  When this painting was finished so was Napoleon’s empire.  It is quite a crazy thought but we feel this is why this painting is contingent on West’s civilization and the needs of the people.