- America Presenting at the Altar of Liberty, Medallions of Her Illustrious Sons
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In this expansive allegory, George Washington, accompanied by Victory, looks on as the kneeling figure of America presents Liberty with portrait medallions of individuals who played important roles in the American Revolution. The figure of Washington is adapted from a print after a painting by John Trumbull, known for his paintings of the American Revolution. Philadelphia artist and collector Pierre Eugène du Simitière drew the profile portraits that were later issued as engravings and adapted as the medallions here.
This textile, made shortly after the end of the Revolution, demonstrates the speed with which British manufacturers supplied pro-American goods to the former colonies.
ProvenanceBy descent through William M. Burr (1794–1869) and Catherine Ten Eyck Burr (1798–1865), Cazenovia, New York; Benjamin Rush Wendell (1822–1884) and Margaret Ten Eyck Wendell (1827–1904); Burr Wendell (1853–1914) and Emily Lentilhon Smith Wendell (1857–1931), Cazenovia; Margaret Ten Eyck Wendell (1882–1920), Cazenovia; former home of William M. Burr and Catherine Ten Eyck Burr, Cazenovia; purchased by Norma Keno (1933–2001), Mohawk, New York; purchased by [Cora Ginsburg, New York], 1994; purchased by MFAH, 2020.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
On the base of the altar of Liberty: AMERICA PRESENTING AT THE / ALTAR OF LIBERTY, MEDALLIONS / OF HER ILLUSTRIOUS SONS
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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