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A [[conversation piece]], it depicts a group of young [[British America|colonial Americans]] from [[Pennsylvania]], [[Virginia]] and [[South Carolina]] visiting the motherland to study. The background may be [[Kew Green]] with [[Kew Bridge]]. The painting shows with [[cricket bat]]s has been as a depiction of the game of [[cricket]] emerging from its roots to become a national pastime played by the elite. In 2022 the British government placed an export ban on the work.https://enfilade18thc.com/2022/10/27/uk-export-ban-placed-on-the-cricketers-by-benjamin-west/ The following year there were reports that [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] might acquired the painting for [[Lord’s]].https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/20/cricketers-lords-could-step-stop-12m-painting-going-abroad/
””’The Cricketers””’ is a 1763 [[oil painting]] by the Anglo-American [[artist]] [[Benjamin West]]. <ref>Alberts p. 78</ref> <ref>Riess p.102</ref>
A [[conversation piece]], it depicts a group of young [[British America|colonial Americans]] from [[Pennsylvania]], [[Virginia]] and [[South Carolina]] visiting the motherland to study. The background may be [[Kew Green]] with [[Kew Bridge]] in the background. The painting shows then with [[cricket bat]]s and has been hailed as a depiction of the game of [[cricket]] emerging from its roots to become a national pastime played by the elite. In 2022 the British government placed an export ban on the work. https://enfilade18thc.com/2022/10/27/uk-export-ban-placed-on-the-cricketers-by-benjamin-west/ The following year there were reports that [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] might acquired the painting for [[Lord’s]]. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/20/cricketers-lords-could-step-stop-12m-painting-going-abroad/
==References==
==References==
{{Benjamin West}}
{{Benjamin West}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Cricketers, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cricketers, The}}
[[Category:Paintings by Benjamin West]]
[[Category:Paintings by Benjamin West]]
[[Category:1763 paintings]]
[[Category:1763 paintings]]
[[Category: 18th-century portraits]]
[[Category:18th-century portraits]]
[[Category:Oil on canvas paintings]]
[[Category:Oil on canvas paintings]]
[[Category:Cricket in art]]
[[Category:Cricket in art]]
