Colonial America
"The Honorable JOHN WINTHROP, Esq." Original Historic Amos Doolittle Engraved Copper Plate Portrait
(AMOS DOOLITTLE) (1754-1832), American Revolutionary War Patriot, Colonial Artist and Engraver, from New Haven, Connecticut, Original Copper-Plate Portrait Engraving of "The Honorable JOHN WINTHROP, Esq.", Framed, Choice Extremely Fine.
c. 1794, This original Copper-Plate Portrait Engraving of "The Honorable JOHN WINTHROP, Esq.," image size 6.5" x 3.5", total size slightly larger, housed in a period style frame under UV Plexiglas to an overall size of 9" x 6.25" professionally framed by "The Old Print Shop" New York. This engraving by "A. Doolittle Sc. N. Haven." Printed in black on quality laid paper. Above the central Portrait is printed the following legend inscription:
"Engraved for Dr. Trumbull's History of Connecticut: from an Original Painting in the possession of Francis Bayd Winthrop." Below: "The Honorable JOHN WINTHROP, Esq., who procured the Charter of Connecticut and was Governor of the Colony from May 1659 until April 5th 1675" - "A. Doolittle Sc. N. Haven."
A lovely, crisp appearing and sharp impression on clean period paper. Ex: EAHA Auction, April 20, 2002, Lot 525. See: "AMOS DOOLITTLE : Engraver Of The New Republic, Donald C. O'Brien, Oak Knoll Press, 2008, page 28.
Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II.
This scarce Portrait is impressively Engraved by Amos Doolittle. It was originally included as a plate in Benjamin Trumbull's "A Complete History of Connecticut ... to the Year 1764" and should be greatly appreciated by followers of this famous early American artist and Connecticut history buffs alike. Amos Doolittle is famous for his metal-plate engravings, including maps, bookplates, Bible illustrations, etc. He has been incorrectly identified as the maker of the first historical plates in America, but he was actually beat out by Revere, whose famous engraving of the Boston Massacre preceded Amos Doolittle's work by roughly five years.
Amos Doolittle (May 18, 1754 " January 30, 1832) was an American Engraver and Silversmith, known as "The Paul Revere of Connecticut." His historic engravings included portraits and maps, made in his New Haven, Connecticut studio. He became famous for his four engravings depicting the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were based on his first-hand reconnaissance of the battlefield.
Born in Cheshire, Connecticut on May 18, 1754, Doolittle became skilled in copper engraving through self-teaching and apprenticeship. His first published experiment with the medium began when he enlisted in the New Haven company of the Governor's Guards in 1775. Under the leadership of Captain Benedict Arnold, the company arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts ten days after the Battles of Lexington and Concord at the start of the Revolutionary War.
Upon arriving in Cambridge, Mass., Doolittle took leave to inspect the site of the battle accompanied by Ralph Earl. Doolittle interviewed colonial militants and residents to establish the scene while Earl surveyed the site and made drawings. From these drawings, Doolittle made at least four engraved copper prints of the battle, which were advertised for sale in the December 1775 Connecticut Journal.
The success of these prints marked the beginning of Doolittle's artistic career. He was sought out by many early Americans eager to learn the art of engraving, including James Wilson. Doolittle established a shop in New Haven, Connecticut, on the present-day site of Yale University's Old Campus, from where he created portraits, maps, and bookplates.
Doolittle died on January 30, 1832 and is buried in the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven.