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The following engraved portraits were printed at about the time of the American Revolution and depict men who were important to that event. Contemporary portraits of figures from the Revolution are of particular historic interest and are quite scarce.
Sequence is alphabetical by sitter and chronological within a group. Bibliographic references are to two publications that list many of these: "Cresswell" refers to Donald H. Cresswell's The American Revolution in Drawings and Prints A Checklist of 1765-1790 Graphics in the Library of Congress (Washington, 1975) and "Cresswell, dis" refers to Prints of the American Revolution: A History and Checklist of Graphics Produced from 1765 to 1790 by Donald H. Cresswell (Washington: a dissertation at George Washington University, 1977).
A striking portrait of Jeffery Amherst (1717-1797), who, along with James Wolfe, shared credits for winning the French and Indian War in North America. This print was first issued about 1766 to celebrate Amherst's role in the conquest of Canada. Amherst is portrayed wearing traditional armor and weapons, and in the background are troops in large canoes streaming down a river, probably the St. Lawrence, as they did for various amphibious landings. A map of the area around Montreal rests below his right elbow. He later served briefly as governor of Virginia, and during the American revolutionary years he was commander of all British forces for the North Administration. The last date in the title is 1795 and since Amherst died August 3, 1797, this version would have been issued about that time. $2,800
A lovely tribute to Esek Hopkins (1718-1802) who was a successful sea captain before his appointment as brigadier general in charge of Rhode Island’s military forces. His reputation never recovered from the British blockading his navy into Narragansett Harbor in 1776, so he was dismissed from command in 1778. The portrait is probably taken from a British mezzotint of 1776 by Hart; however, the delicate decoration surrounding him is so very French. Two flags depict the “Liberty tree” and the American rattlesnake draped over military ordnance and with laurels, olive branch and palm leaves, plus a liberty cap. A print with the best elements of French neoclassic allegory. Superb.
The engraver is Dupin le jeune (born in Paris in 1753) who worked until the early 1790s. $500
A large bust portrait of General Lafayette from the mid-nineteenth century. The print is part of a series of portraits of eminent Americans published by William Schaus. Schaus in 1847 was sent to New York by the Paris firm of Goupil, Vibert & Co. as their American agent, but in 1850 he set up on his own as a print publisher. As one of his first projects he intended to issue twelve portraits a year in a series called the "Illustrious Americans," which was to include Daniel Webster, General Lafayette and Benjamin Franklin. This striking portrait is typical of the series, with an imposing image of America's French ally, the Marquis de Lafayette. $475
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