Maker(s): | Le Mire, Noel (engraver); Le Paon, Jean-Baptiste (painter)
| Culture: | French (1724-1800) and (1736/38? - 1785)
| Title: | print: Conclusion de la Campagne Liberte De 1781 En Virginie. To His Excellency George Washington this Likeness of his Friend, The Marquis de la Lafayette, is humbly dedicated, By Le Mire
| Date Made: | 1783-1795
| Type: | Print
| Materials: | paper, ink, glass, wood
| Place Made: | Europe; France; Paris
| Accession Number: | HD 2130
| Museum Collection: | Historic Deerfield
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Description: Engraving of Lafayette, this print depicts General Lafayette in full length portrait, standing while holding two swords in his left hand, the battle scene behind him is Yorktown, Virginia. Following the Marquis's finger, we see the allied French and American forces storming a fortified position outside Yorktown, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the defending forces. A fleet of vessels sit offshore, probably meant to represent De Grasse's pivotal French fleet. He is shown with his enslaved African American valet, holding the General's horse behind him at right, engraved on lower bottom, "Conclusion de la Campagne Liberte De 1781 En Virginie./ To His Excellency George Washington this Likeness of his Friend,/ The Marquis de la Lafayette, is humbly dedicated," and in smaller engraving on the left and right side: "By Le Mire peint par L. le Paon peintre de Bataille de S.A.S. Mgr. le Prince de Condé" and "gravé par N. le Mire des Academies Imperiales et Royales et de celle des Siences [sic] et Arts de Rouen et de Lille." Also inscribed: "Paris : le Mire rüe et porte St. Jacques, a côté du caffé d Aubertin no. 122, [178-]" Lafayette commissioned Le Paon to paint his portrait as a present for George Washington, the original painting is currently in the collections of Lafayette College, in the title a wreath encircles the word "Liberte" and pole topped with a liberty cap, from which rays of light emanate.
Tags: enslaved persons; African American Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2130 |