- Liberty Triumphant: or the Downfall of Oppression
Sheet (irregular): 10 7/8 × 15 1/16 in. (27.6 × 38.3 cm)
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This engraving is a rare early American political caricature of the Revolutionary period, applauding colonial resistance to the hated British Tea Tax. It was published shortly after the Boston Tea Party in December 1773 when a band of colonists, cloaked as American Indians, boarded three British merchant vessels, confiscated their cargo, and tossed overboard chests filled with taxed tea. The 18 personages and events depicted on this print are superimposed over a map showing the coastline from Boston to Delaware Bay and Great Britain across the Atlantic Ocean. It would have been recognizable to anyone living in Philadelphia or New York City.
On one side of the ocean, America is represented by an American Indian queen pointing a bow and arrow toward the British, while six American Indians, representing the Sons of Liberty, follow behind. The tea ship Polly approaches the Thames; members of the East India Company stand near tea labeled for America on the other side of the Atlantic. At the top, Lady Britannia laments the actions of her “degenerate sons,” while the Goddess of Liberty lauds the colonial actions to the personification of Fame.
Provenance[Auction, Philadelphia, c. 2005–2006]; private collection, United States; [Donald A. Heald Rare Books, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2013.
Exhibition History"Radicals and Revolutionaries: America's Founding Fathers," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 10–May 28, 2018.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, in plate, throughout [in numbered speech bubbles]:
1. Lord N--th. says “We must manage this business with a great deal of Art [skill/finesse]; Or I see we shall not succeed.”
2. Lord B—te. says “God’s curse, Mon, ye mon act wie meikle Spirit upon this occasion, or ane’s lost I assure ye.”
3. An East India Director says “I wish we may be able to establish our Monopoly in America.”
4. The infamous K…y says “Gov T…n will cram the Tea down the Throat of the New Yorkers.”
5. Belzebub, the Prince of Devils, whispering to K--y,” Speak in favor of ye [the] Scheme Now’s the time to push your fortune.”
6. The writer of the Papers (signed Poplicola) in favor of the Tea saying “I have prostituted my reason and my Conscience to serve You, and am therefore entitled to some reward.”
7. The Chairman of the India Company replies “If we had succeeded, you should have been provided for.”
8. A Group of India Directors say, “We have just now received the disagreeable intelligence [news] that the Bostonians have destroyed the Tea”; “and that the Philadelphians have compel’d the Ship for their Port to return with the Tea”; “and likewise that the People of New York, are determined to act in the same spirited manner.” . . .
9. The Patriotic Duke of Richmond “Had my advice been follow’d, you would not have met with this loss and disappointment.”
10. The Genius of Britain asks “Britannia why so much distress’d”
11. Britannia replies, “The conduct of those my degenerate Sons will break my Heart.”
12. America represented by a Woman, “aid me my sons, and prevent my being Fetterd”
13. The Sons of Liberty, represented by the Natives of America, in their savage garb,“We will secure our freedom, or die in the Attempt”: “ Lead us to Liberty or Death”; “Lead on, Lead on.”
14. The Goddess of Liberty addressing herself to Fame and pointing to her Sons, “Behold the Ardor of my Sons and let not their brave Actions be buried in Oblivion.”
15. Fame, “I will trumpet their Noble Deeds, from Pole to Pole.”
16. A View of the Tea Ships in the Harbour of Boston
17. Capt. Loring’s Vessel with the Tea, Shipwrecked on Cape Cod
18. A Group of Disappointed Americans, who were for landing the Tea; in hopes of sharing in the Plunder of their Country.
– The first, at the left laments, “The People have discovered our design to divide them, & we shall never be able to regain their confidence.”
– Next to him stands a two-faced man, saying, “I am ready to die with grief and vexation, at our Disappointment, As it will blast my hopes of preferment.”
– The third man exclaims, “Damn the Bostonians, they have been a great means of frustrating our design.” Finally there are a group of four.
– The first says, “We must now make a Virtue of necessity & join against landing the Tea.”
– His companion answers, “I approve of your Scheme as it will save appearances with the people who are easily deceived.”
– “Agreed.” “Agreed” say the last two.
Recto: Inscribed in ink, below plate: [List 1-18 identifying numbers within plate]
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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