ly forbidden and had West made any political statements about the world in which he lived, he would have short-circuited his career as a painter. Thus, some art historians believe that he chose, instead, to comment through his artwork (Keyes, 3-6).
There are several differences between the wash and the oil on canvas works. West made significant changes, all considered improvements, to his pen and ink wash study. In the study, a figure kneels with outstretched arms in the lower left corner. But, in the oil on canvas painting, this small figure has been replaced by a man holding a spear. Also, there is a family fleeing the scene in the study, but in the painting the fleeing family was replaced by a youth who is being struck by lightning. There are numerous additions in the painting. One figure now holds an empty cup. The sky now bears figures which represent the Demons of Discord and Envy (Carey, 17),
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