Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
September 1774
Primary Source Reference:
Pennsylvania Journal, or, Weekly Advertiser (Philadelphia), 21 Sep 1774
Notes:
"William Penn, First Proprietor and Founder of Pennsilvania, Drawn by Du Simitière, from a Bust in Alto Relievo done by Sylvanus Bevan, said to be a good likelness. Philadelphia October 1770. Engraved by John Hall, London 1773." 12 7/8 in. x 8 in. (326 mm x 202 mm) paper size.
Du Simitière's was the earliest published portrait of Penn. He began advertising the print for sale in Sep 1774, when they presumably arrived from London. See John Nickalls, "Some Quaker Portraits Certain and Uncertain," Supplement of the Friends' Historical Society Bulletin, London (No. 29,1958) / https://journals.sas.ac.uk/FHSS/issue/view/562/50
The portrait as also used to illustrate "A Biographical Sketch of William Penn" published in the <em>American Universal Magazine</em>, 1, no. 1 (2 Jan 1797): 3-8, where is was described as "esteemed by [Penn's son] Richard Penn, a good Likeness," also pictured here.
