The Able Doctor or America Swallowing the Bitter Draught

London Magazine

1774

American as Native Princess (vulnerable and agents of resistance) forced to drink tea, spewing back in face. Reminder of sexually charged ideas, even Britanica is ashamed. By tying themselves to the Indians they embraced revolutionary ideas and a new self.

The Deplorable State of America

John Singleton Copley

1765

Cartoon re-engraved based on English politics. Riddled with symbolism. From 'Mother England' forcing Indian daughter to take Pandora's Box (Stamp Act). Goddess of Wisdom warns the daughter, and Magna Carta is in the background in ruins. Tree used by Patriot meetings is present and gallows in back for not following act. etc.

The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill

John Trumbull

1786

Student of West, most famous for revolution paintings. American and British death, depicts noble act of British general and nobleman vs 'peasant' man continuing on with brutality.

Painted during debate about having a strong centeral federal government. 

Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences

Samual Jennings

1792

Teaching, child like and bowing down. Idea that white man is burdened to teach African Americans. Broken shackels at her feet symbolize emancipation.

Slaves seen as grateful. Combine local pride with strong dissent against slavery, but civilization is a one way street. Europeans possess culture, Africans do not.

George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait)

Gilbert Stuart

1796

Student of West. Depicts GW as always watching America in stern/calm way. Reminding genreations of formidable virtues of Founding Fathers. 

George Washington

Horatio Greenough

1840

Public did not want to see their leader half naked and a devote Christian depicted as Zeus.  Gesture of pointing up and giving up his sword link his authority with renouncing of monarchial power. 

Portrait of Phyllis Wheatley

Scipio Moorhead

1773

Slave from Gambia, but spoke many languages. Poet in biblical themes, 22yo published book of poetry. In her portrait, she's depicted as thinking and looks slightly 'less African American'. Capable of intellectual thought. 

Benjamin Franklin

Charles Willson Peale

1785

Focused on appeal to the 'common man'. Writing implements, lightning and bifocals remind us his work is in the realm of learning, science, and letters. Lightning rod in hand references that science goes hand in hand with his patriotism.

Portrait of the Artist in his Museum

Charles Willson Peale

1822

Always trying to champion the Americans and it's uniqueness.  Taxadurmist and natural historian as well as painter. Dinosaur bones - Mastadon, America had 'larger animals' and was therefore superior. 

Wanted middle class to have access to museum too. 

Exhuming the First American Mastadon

Charles Willson Peale

1806

Preserved in tar, Peale believed they were still roaming. 1st to adopt Ianaum system of classification.

The Staircase Group

Charles Willson Peale

1795

Displayed at the first group exhibition ever held in the US of works of American artists in the Senate Chambers of Independence Hall. 

Deception - feature eldest son ascending a staircase with yonger brother. To heighten illusion, installed it within a door frame and real step. Placement, there was an acutal staircase behind the door. 

Directed towards sophisticated viewers and untutored viewers. 

Peale wanted to cultivate a public for high art - son ascending with painting supplies suggest arts themselves are ascending.

Elijah in the Desert

Washington Allston

1818

Early Romanticism - a mistrust of rationality, a preference for intuition, emphasis on heightened states of emotion and deep skepticism about society as anything more than a corruption of individual innocence.

Studied under West. 

Subjecy suitable for history, no cities, gathering of people to link prophet with realm of civic endeavor. 

Downcast posture suggest voyage is internal, dwarfed by landscape. 

Moonlit Landscape

Washington Allston

1819

Romanticism.

Night scene more magical than real, choosing mood over reason and color over line.

Boats/indivduals suggest motion and change. Painting remains mystery - carries viewer away from social life and public issues to realm defined by poetry, mood, and suggestion.