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America triumphant and Britannia in distress

America triumphant and Britannia in distress

description

Summary

A crude allegory of American prosperity and victory over England. Below the image an "Explanation" reads: "I America sitting on that quarter of the globe with the Flag of the United States displayed over her head; holding in one hand the Olive branch, inviting the ships of all nations to partake of her commerce; and in the other hand supporting the Cap of Liberty. II Fame proclaiming the joyful news to all the world. III Britannia weeping at the loss of the trade of America, attended with an evil genius. IV The British flag struck, on her strong Fortresses. V French, Spanish, Dutch &c shipping in the harbours of America. VI A view of New York wherein is exhibited the Trator [sic] Arnold, taken with remorse for selling his [country?] and Judas like hanging himself." America is represented by a Minerva figure, seated beneath a dead tree, with a shield bearing a snake. The shield is ringed with another snake, the Uroborus. The American flag has thirteen stars.

Another impression appears as the frontispiece in "Weatherwise's Town and Country Almanack," Boston, 1782.
Cresswell, no. 839
Fielding, no. 1776
Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1782-1.
Published in: American women : a Library of Congress guide ... Washington : Library of Congress, 2001, p. 184.
Published in: The American Revolution in drawings and prints; a checklist of 1765-1790 graphics in the Library of Congress / Compiled by Donald H. Cresswell, with a foreword by Sinclair H. Hitchings. Washington : [For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.], 1975, no. 839.
Exhibited in: "Creating the United States" at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 2010.

date_range

Date

1850 - 1950
create

Source

Library of Congress
copyright

Copyright info

Public Domain

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