Volume II Part 36 (1/1)
The large engraving by W Sharp was published April 20, 1793, and the smaller in 1794 A reproduction by Ills naot into Gilbert Vale's popular biography of Paine That and a reproduction by Wright in the Menduh this country so little better than a caricature; and one Sweden has subjected Truelove's edition, in England, to a like misfortune Paine's friends, Rickman, Constable, and others, were satisfied by the Romney picture, and I have seen in G J Holyoake's library a proof of the large engraving, with an inscription on the back by Paine, who presented it to Rickor, and in the thick of his conflict with Burke, but, noble as it is, has not the gentler and more poetic expression which Bonneville found in the liberated prisoner surrounded by affectionate friends
Romney and Sharp were both well acquainted with Paine
A picturesque Paine is one engraved for Baxter's ”History of England,”
and published by Syance, Paine stands pointing to a scroll in his left hand, inscribed ”Rights of Man” Above his head, on a fran, a pen lies on a roll ood
A raved by K
Mackenzie, and published March 31, 1800, by G Gawthorne, British Library, Strand, London It is the only portrait that has beneath it ”Tom Paine” It represents Paine as rather stout, and the face broad
It is powerful, but the least pleasing of the portraits The picture in Vale resembles this more than the Romney it professes to copy
I have in ives no trace of its source or period It is a vigorous profile, whichthe excitehts of Man,” for popular distribution It has no wig, and shows the head extraordinarily long, and without lish radical leader
Before speaking of Jarvis' great portrait of Paine, I , of New York, has added to my collection It would appear to have been circulated at the ti a facsiraph, is: ”J
W Jarvis, pinx 1805 J- R Aland, Jan 29, (O S) 1737 Died at Greenwich, New York, June 8, 1809” Above the cheap wood-cut is: ”A tribute to Paine”
On the right, at the top, is a globe, showing the outlines of the Aland, and Africa It is supported by the wing of a dove with large olive-branch On the left upper corner is an open book inscribed: ”Rights of Man Co justice, loving e of Reason” Frolobe opposite A lower corner shows the balances, and the liberty-cap on a pole, the left being occupied by the United States flag and that of France Beneath are the broken chain, croord, and other e a plumb line, at the top of which the key of the Bastille is crossed by a pen, on Paine's breast The portrait is surrounded by a ”Freedom's Wreath” in which are traceable the floral emblems of all nations The wreath is bound with a fascia, on which appear, by twos, the following naton, Monroe; Jefferson, Franklin; J Stewart, E Palmer; Barlow, Rush; M Wollstone-craft, M B Bonneville; Clio Rickman, J
Home Tooke; Lafayette, Brissot”
The portrait of Paine represents him with an unusually full face, as compared with earlier pictures, and a most noble and benevolent expression The white cravat and dress are elegant What has becoinal of this second picture by the elder Jarvis? It nize it as h to one who has studied his countenance it conveys the iht About two years later a draas made of Paine by William Constable, which I saw at the house of his nephew, Dr Clair J Grece, Redhill, England It reveals the ravages of age, but conveys a vivid impression of the man's power
After Paine's death Jarvis took a cast of his face Mr Laurence Hutton has had for many years this death-mask which was forists, and probably used by George Coe nose of the bust; but that is known to have been added afterwards The bust is in the New York Historical Society's rooms In an article on Paine in the _Atlantic Monthly_ (1856) it was stated that this bust had to be hidden by the Historical Society to prevent its injury by haters of Paine This has been quoted by Mr Robertson, of London, in his ”Thoation” I am assured by Mr Kelby, of that Society, that the statement is unfounded The Society has not room to exhibit its entire collection, and the bust of Paine was for soht, but from no such reason as that stated, still less from any prejudice The face is that of Paine in extreme dilapidation, and would be a dismal misrepresentation if shown in a public place
Before me are examples of all the portraits I have ham), and I have observed contemporary representations of Paine in caricatures or in apotheosis of fly-leaves Comparative studies convince me that the truest portrait of Paine is that painted by John Wesley Jarvis in 1803, and now in possession of Mr J H Johnston, of New York The picture from which our frontispiece is taken appeared to be a replica, of so fresher, but an inscription on the back says ”Charles W Jarvis, pinxit, July, 1857”
From this perfect duplicate Clark Mills made his portrait-bust of Paine now in the National Museuraved Alas, that no art can send out to the world what colors only can convey,--the sensibility, the candor, the spirituality, transfusing the strong features of Tho task, non to a close, the face there on the wall has seemed to be alive, now flushed with hope, now shadoith care, the eyes greetingsome password--Truth, Justice