On the left, standing in front of a thatched hut. "Africa" wears a plumed headdress and animal pelt and holds a spear in his left hand; in his right hand he holds a document inscribed "Slave Trade abolish'd 1806." On the right, "America" is Lady Liberty, wearing plumed headdress and cloak; she holds a standard with the Stars and Stripes, and gestures at a pedestal with portraits of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. A snake curls around the pedestal. Between the two figures is a landscape with hills on either side of a river, and waterfall; a crocodile emerges from behind the figure of Africa
Alternative Title:
America
Description:
Title from item., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., and Description based on an imperfect impression; imprint statement mostly erased from sheet.
Publisher:
Published Augt. 20, 1807 [by W.B. Walker ...?]
Subject (Geographic):
United States.
Subject (Name):
Washington, George, 1732-1799, and Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790,
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin performing his famous experiment of June 1752 in which he attached a key to a kite and flew it in a thunderstorm in order to prove that lightning was electricity. Almost allegorical in presentation, Franklin is shown seated on clouds with cherub-like figures assisting him on the right in the backgroun, his red cape blowing in the wind against a stormy sky
Description:
Date and title taken from impression at the Philadelphia Museum of Art., Based on the Benjamiin West oil painting now at the Philadelphia Museum of Art., and Embossed letters at lower left corner: Cercle Librairie estampes encircling initials RTN.
