Description:
One of a set of four hand-colored etchings or engravings (few of these complete sets are known) depicting the biblical story of The Prodigal Son found in St. Luke 15. The bottom of the print is inscribed: "A. Doolittle, Sc."; "The PRODIGAL SON revelling with HARLOTS / He wasted his Substance with Riotious Living"; "St. Luke 15th Chap 13 V"; and "Published and Sold by Shelton & Kensett Cheshire, Con. October 24th, 1814." Amos Doolittle (1754-1832) of New Haven, Connecticut, was initially apprenticed to a jeweler and silversmith; he taught himself engraving (and is considered one of the earliest American copperplate engravers), and became a prolific producer of historical and satirical engravings, bookplates, portraits and biblical illustrations. Doolittle transposed these scenes into early 19th century America with contemporary dress and settings. Although the interiors were not completely typical of Connecticut homes in 1814, Doolittle used background elements to those used by his friend, historical and portrait painter Ralph Earl (1751-1801), in portraits of several prominent area residences. Shelton & Kensett was an engraving and print publishing firm in Cheshire, Connecticut, co-founded by Thomas Kensett (1786-1829), an engraver who emigrated to the U.S. in 1812 from England, where he had previously been an engraver at Hampton Court. Prints such as these from the biblical story of the "Prodigal Son" were used to illustrate the dramatic importance of good conduct and character; they stress personal restraint and temperance as well as parental guidance and forgiveness in order to check temptation and the loss of assets or reputation. Revealing the pitfalls in transferring wealth from one generation to the next, the theme assumed new meaning in a new country with many opportunities that might distract young men. The Prodigal Son parable appealed to the English and Americans, and many engravers issued similar sets of prints. HD also has a set of these four Prodigal Son scenes based on the same Doolittle engravings - these lithographs (HD 94.014) were published by D. W. Kellogg of Hartford, Connecticut, between 1830-1842.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+86.003.2 |
