Commemorative, fictionalized group portrait print depicting “seventy-seven Masonic Brethren, Signers of the Declaration of American Independence and other Distinguished Members of the “Masonic Fraternity” in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall. Shows three rows of Brethren (“Distinguished Dead” and “immortal”) within the paneled wall room of the historic site being used as an exhibit gallery. At the center of the first row stands “Father of his Country” George Washington, his left hand on his hip, and wearing a masonic apron adorned with Masonic symbols. Nearest him to the left, also in masonic, but undecorated, aprons, stand Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Other figures in undecorated aprons in the front row include (left to right) James Buchanan; Marquise de Lafayette; Bishop William White; Andrew Jackson; and Henry Clay. Some of the men hold hats or scrolls, while others hold their hands together, or cross their arms. Other figures in the further rows include Stephen Girard, Stephen A. Douglas, and John C. Breckenridge. In the background, framed artwork, predominately from the Charles Willson Peale portrait collection; Henry Inman's portrait painting of William Penn (left); Thomas Sully's portrait painting of Lafayette (right) line the walls. Background also includes in the far right, the Liberty Bell upon which a stuffed bald eagle sits (installed 1852) and, in the center, a bronze eagle elevated above the partially visible wood statue of George Washington (carved 1815 by William Rush, installed 1824)., Title from from promotional pamphlet held in collections [Am 1860 Pheni 54390.O.13]. Pamphlet also lists the names of many of the sitters in image., Publication information from copyright statement: Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1860 by Thomas Phenix in the Clerk's Office of the Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania., Gift of David Doret, 2011.
Creator
Inger, Christian, artist
Date
1860
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **group portrait prints - Masons [P.2011.45.10]
