Full-length portrait of the eccentric radical Quaker abolitionist, author, and hermit, his left hand slightly raised. He holds a cane and a book titled, "African Emancipation" in his other hand., Published as frontispiece in Roberts Vaux's Memoirs of the Lives of Benjamin Lay and Ralph Sandiford:...(Philadelphia: Solomon W. Conrad, 1815). (LCP Am 1815 Vaux, Log 1971.D)., Manuscript note below image: the Hermit - Nat: 1677. Ob: 1759. He was one of the first public advocates for the emancipation of the enslaved Africans. [Vide Memoirs of his life by R. Vaux.]. See page 124., Portrait of Rev. Richard Allen on recto. (LCP Yi 2, 1069.F. 276), From John Fanning Watson's Extra-illustrated Autograph Manuscript of "Annals of Philadelphia," p. 277. (LCP Yi 2, 1069).
Creator
Kneass, William, 1780-1840, engraver
Date
[ca. 1815]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Print Portraits-L [Yi 2, 1069.F.276 (verso)]
Half-length portrait of the African American bishop, seated, and holding a book, possibly the Bible, in front of a curtain. He looks slightly to the left and points to an open page of the book with his right hand and clasps the upper edge of the other side of the book with his left hand. Allen is attired in a collared shirt, a vest, and a jacket. Allen was the first African American bishop as well as founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was born in Philadelphia and was enslaved by Benjamin Chew. He worked as a wood-cutter during his ordination. A full-length portrait of the white Quaker abolitionist and little person Benjamin Lay is on the verso. Lay is attired in a tricorn hat, a long shirt and jacket, britches, and boots. He holds a cane and book in his right hand., Manuscript note on border: "The curiosity of the portrait below is that it was made for the first Black Bishop in the UStates and perhaps the world! He is indeed a self created Bishop; nevertheless, as such he has now, in his 65 years, in 1824, probably created 100 ministers, by his ordination! He was born & bred in Philada. He was originally a slave of Benjn Chew's Esqre & learnd the trade of a Shoemaker; & like St. Paul, 'labored with his own hands,' while he ordained-", Title from item., Date form item., In John Fanning Watson's Extra-illustrated autograph manuscript of "Annals of Philadelphia", p. 276., Gift of John F Watson, June 1830., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Date
1813
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Watson's Annals manuscript [Yi2 1069.F.276]
