Object Details
Artist
John Singleton Copley, 3 Jul 1738 - 9 Sep 1815
Sitter
Henry Laurens, 6 Mar 1724 - 8 Dec 1792
Exhibition Label
Born Charles Town (now Charleston), South Carolina
This portrait depicts South Carolina statesman Henry Laurens in his capacity as president of the Continental Congress (1777–78). Laurens was also a partner in the largest American slave trading company, Austin and Laurens. During the Revolutionary War (1775–83), he objected to the British promise to liberate enslaved people who would fight with them. In 1780, the British captured Laurens while he was traveling to Holland to negotiate aid for the revolutionary government. They charged him with high treason and imprisoned him in the Tower of London for fifteen months.
Following Laurens’s release, in April 1782, John Singleton Copley painted this portrait in London. Seven months later, Laurens traveled to Paris, where he signed the treaty ending the Revolutionary War. Protecting his economic interests, Laurens made a last-minute change to the Treaty of Paris to prevent the British Army from “carrying away” American property—including formerly enslaved people.
Nacido en Charles Town (hoy Charleston), Carolina del Sur
Aquí aparece Henry Laurens, estadista de Carolina del Sur, en su carácter de presidente del Congreso Continental (1777–78). Laurens era también socio en la compañía más grande de tráfico de esclavos en Estados Unidos: Austin and Laurens. Durante la Guerra de Independencia (1775–83) se opuso a la promesa de los británicos de liberar a los esclavos que lucharan de su lado. En 1780 fue capturado por los británicos cuando viajó a Holanda a negociar apoyo para el gobierno revolucionario. Lo acusaron de traición a la patria y lo encerraron en la Torre de Londres durante 15 meses.
Tras la liberación de Laurens en abril de 1782, John Singleton Copley pintó este retrato en Londres. Siete meses después Laurens viajó a París, donde firmó el tratado que puso fin a la Guerra de Independencia. Para proteger sus intereses económicos, hizo un cambio de última hora al Tratado de París a fin de evitar que el ejército británico “se llevara” posesiones americanas, incluidas las personas antes esclavizadas.
Provenance
Richard Bagwell [1840-1918], Marlfield House, Clonmel, Ireland; his widow Harriet Bagwell; (Lewis and Simmons, London); sold 29 March 1920 to Thomas B. Clarke [1848-1931], New York; sold as part of Clarke collection through (M. Knoedler and Co., New York) January 29, 1936 to The A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, Pittsburgh; gift to National Gallery of Art 1942; transferred 1965 to NPG.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; transfer from the National Gallery of Art; gift of the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, 1942
Date
1782
Object number
NPG.65.45
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
137.5 × 103 cm (54 1/8 × 40 9/16")
Frame: 155.9 × 121.9 × 9.2 cm (61 3/8 × 48 × 3 5/8")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View
NPG, East Gallery 140
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Printed Material\Document
Interior\Interior with Exterior View
Weapon\Sword
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Carpet
Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pen\Quill
Henry Laurens: Male
Henry Laurens: Politics and Government\Government official\Congressman\Continental congressman
Henry Laurens: Politics and Government\Government official
Henry Laurens: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant
Henry Laurens: Military and Intelligence\Militia\Officer
Henry Laurens: Business and Finance\Natural resources commerce\Agriculturist\Planter
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.65.45