Amos Doolittle
A Display of the United States of America

Public Domain

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Images(2)

Artist Amos Doolittle (American, 1754–1832)American, 1754–1832

CultureAmerican

Titles

A Display of the United States of America

Date1791

PlaceNew Haven, Connecticut, United States

MediumEngraving with watercolor on laid paper

DimensionsPlate: 20 5/8 × 16 7/8 in. (52.4 × 42.9 cm)
Approx. sheet: 22 1/2 × 19 in. (57.2 × 48.3 cm)
Frame: 27 × 23 1/2 × 2 1/8 in.

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Robert G. Phillips and the El Paso Corporation in honor of Bill Wise at "One Great Night in November, 2001"

Object numberB.2001.29

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionAmos Doolittle is best known for his series of four engravings that are the only contemporary depictions of the battles at Lexington and Concord. A Display of the United States of America was his most ambitious work, the largest plate executed by an American engraver up to that time. The first state (1789) portrays George Washington in a three-quarter pose. For the second state (1790) Doolittle erased the portrait and in its place substituted the profile (the alteration is clearly visible in this image). In his efforts to update the print, Doolittle issued no fewer than five variants, adding the names of the newest states and territories, as well as their statistics.
Provenance[The Old Print Shop, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2001.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center: A Display of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA / To the Patrons of the ARTS and SCIENCES in all parts of the World, this Plate / is most respectfully Dedicated by their most obedient and humble Servant. / Amos Doolittle [cursive] New Haven Oct.r 16 1791
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center bottom edge: Printed & Sold by A Doolittle New Haven where Engraving and Roling Preſs Printing is performed

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