Portraits of the American Revolution

Portraits of the American Revolution

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).

Jeffrey Amherst

Joshua Reynolds. "Sir Jeffrey Amherst, Knight of the most honorable Order of the Bath, Governor of Virginia, Colonel of His Majesty's 15th. And 60th. Regiments of Foot, Lieutenant, and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in North America from 1758 to 1764." London: Ryland & Bryer, ca. 1770.. Mezzotint by James Watson. 18 x 12 3/4 (full sheet). Hair magins all around at platemarks. Slight old insect damage. Ref.: Cresswell, 4. Smith, 2 (3rd. state of 4). Strong impression; all image and text present for this state. Scarce.
Jeffery Amherst (1717-1797) shared with James Wolfe credit for winning the French & Indian War in North America. Here he is shown 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 later, during the American revolutionary years he was commander of all British forces for the North Administration. Below this strong and impressive image is Amherst's coat of arms showing two American Indians in chains to signify the conquest of the French and their Indian allies. $1,800

Joseph Brant (Joseph Thayendanekan)

1776. "Joseph Thayendaneken. The Mohawk Chief." From The London Magazine. London, July 1776. Engraving. 8 x 4 5/8. Some slight foxing and age browning. Strong impression. Cresswell. 200. $275

Charles Cornwallis

1798. John Singleton Copley. "The Most Noble Charles Marquiss Cornwallis, &c. &c.." London: J. & J. Boydell, 1 Sept 1798. Stipple engraving by Benjamin Smith. 16 3/8 x 13 1/4. Strong impression. Trimmed to within platemarks with image and text complete and good margins. Very good condition. In the year that this print was made, Cornwallis was embarking to Ireland where he would be lord lieutenant and commanding officer, and eventually he returned for a shortened career in India. $850

Horatio Gates

“Le General Gates, qui a environné et fait Prisonier le General Lieutenant Bourgogne avec toute son Armée en Amerique.” Possibly printed in Paris in 1778. Credits read, “Peint par Tomlinson a Nouvelle York” and “Se vend a Londres chez Thom. Hart.” Mezzotint on laid paper. 8 7/8 x 6 1/8 (platemarks) plus narrow but complete margins. No references found. Penciled note on back says it was listed in the Hampton Carson sale, part 3, December, 1904. Excellent.
The text on this fictitious portrait of Horatio Gates (1728/29-1806) states that it is based on a portrait done in New York and engraved in London. The portraiture is based on a group of mezzotints done in London by shadowy artist/engravers who were promoting the American cause. If published in London, then it was primarily for the French market where news of the American victory at Saratoga led to confidence in the colonial military and eventual alliance with France.
Gates is shown holding a general’s baton and wearing the gorget symbolizing an officer on duty. The visage and pose resembles contemporary mezzotints of John Sullivan and David Wooster (see Cresswell, 194 and 235). $1,200

George Grenville

1804. "Rt. Hon'ble George Grenville." From New York Magazine. New York, 1804. Stipple engraving by W. Haines. 3 3/8 x 2 5/8. Stauffer, 1202. Influential in the British government during the Revolution. Introduced the Stamp Act. $75

Esek Hopkins

Circa. 1778. “Hopkins Commandant En Chef; la Flotte Américaine.” Credit to “Dupin sculp.” Etching. 6 x 4 1/4 (image) plus margins. Paris: Esnauts et Rapilly, Rue St. Jacques a la Ville de Coutances, A.P.D.R. On laid paper with watermark. Ref.: Cresswell, Dissertation, 217, cites copy in Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, as only one found. Excellent condition, fine strike.
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

Patrick Henry

None currently available.

Richard Lord Viscount Howe

1780. "Richd. Lord Viscount Howe. Rear Admiral of the White And Commander in Chief of the Fleet in N. America." From An Impartial History of the War in America. 6 1/2 x 4 1/4 (image) plus platemarks and border. Note "p.327" in upper right corner. Cresswell, 120. Commander of the American naval station from 1776 to 1778. $250

Marquis de Lafayette

19th Century. "The Marquis de la Fayette." 2 7/8 x 2 1/2 (image). Steel engraving. Chine appliqué. $50

Charles Lee

1775. "Charles Lee, Esqr. Major General of the Continental-Army in America." After portrait by J. Thomlinson. Mezzotint. 12 3/4 x 9 1/4 (image) plus close margins. London: C. Shepherd. Conserved, backed for strength. Var. of Cresswell, 147 and Chaloner Smith, IV, p. 1716. Early in the Revolution, Lee was expected to play a major role, but poor performance in battle, unsuccessful rivalry with Washington and capture by the British caused his role to be considerably diminished. $1600

Benjamin Rush

1813. Thomas Sully. "Benjamin Rush, M.D., L.L.D." From The Analectic Magazine. 3 9/16 x 3. Engraving by William Satchwell Leney. Light vertical creasse, else, very good condition. American physician, signer of the Declaration of Independence and founder of Dickinson College. $125

Pierre Andre de Suffren Saint-Tropez

1785. "Suffrein." London, J. Fielding, 1785. Engraving by Walker. 5 3/4 x 3 1/2. He joined the French fleet under the Comte d'Estaing in American waters in 1778 and engaged the British in successful battles at Newport, Grenada, and Savannah. He later fought the British in the East Indies. Cresswell, 193. $90