Esek Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the American Fleet ].
London: Thomas Hart 22 August 1776]. Mezzotint engraved by R. Purcell, trimmed to the image (12 ¾ x 9 ¼ inches, 323x235 mm). A wonderfully dark and rich impression. Matted. scarce american revolution mezzotint of the first admiral of the american navy. This image shows Hopkins, with sword in hand, with two American ships in the background. Of note on the ships are two early versions of flags used by the American naval forces. The one to Hopkins's left depicts a flag with the liberty tree under which reads “An Appeal to God” (a variant to the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven”) which was the flag used on the six cruisers which George Washington outfitted at his expense. The other ship flies a striped flag with the famous words “Don't Tread on Me” - i.e. the first navy jack used on Hopkins's flagship the Alfred. The portrait in reality bears little resemblance to Hopkins and was accomplished to satisfy the British demand for images of the colonial rebels. This stunning mezzotint is a brilliant impression, though has been trimmed to the image and lacks the text originally found below. Cresswell, The American Revolution in Drawings and Prints 114.
Esek Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the American Fleet ].
London: Thomas Hart 22 August 1776]. Mezzotint engraved by R. Purcell, trimmed to the image (12 ¾ x 9 ¼ inches, 323x235 mm). A wonderfully dark and rich impression. Matted. scarce american revolution mezzotint of the first admiral of the american navy. This image shows Hopkins, with sword in hand, with two American ships in the background. Of note on the ships are two early versions of flags used by the American naval forces. The one to Hopkins's left depicts a flag with the liberty tree under which reads “An Appeal to God” (a variant to the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven”) which was the flag used on the six cruisers which George Washington outfitted at his expense. The other ship flies a striped flag with the famous words “Don't Tread on Me” - i.e. the first navy jack used on Hopkins's flagship the Alfred. The portrait in reality bears little resemblance to Hopkins and was accomplished to satisfy the British demand for images of the colonial rebels. This stunning mezzotint is a brilliant impression, though has been trimmed to the image and lacks the text originally found below. Cresswell, The American Revolution in Drawings and Prints 114.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
