Gen. Marion in his Swamp Encampment Inviting a British Officer to Dinner

dated 1840

A mezzotint engraving entitled "Gen. Marion in his Swamp Encampment Inviting a British Officer to Dinner" (American, 1840) by John Sartain (American, 1808-1897), after a painting by John Blake White (American, 1781-1859), printed by the Apollo Association for the Promotion of the Fine Arts. The engraving depicts General Francis Marion (nicknamed "Swamp Fox" for his use of guerilla war tactics in the marshes of South Carolina during the American Revolution) inviting a British Officer to share in a simple meal of roasted sweet potatoes. General Marion is shown in the company of his men standing, facing forward with his arm extended to the present the makeshift table laid with food. The British officer is depicted on his left standing in profile. On his right is a kneeling African American man who holds a small pan in one hand and roasts sweet potatoes with the other. This is believed to be Oscar Marion, Francis Marion’s slave who accompanied the General into war. In the background is the military encampment within a dense marshy forest.

Printed below the bottom left corner of the image is "Painted by John B. White Charleston S.C.", below the opposite corner is "Engraved by John Sartain." Along the bottom at center is the title in block letters. Below this is "PUBLISHED BY THE APOLLO ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE FINE ARTS IN THE U.S./No. 1.1840." On the bottom right corner is "Printed by J. Dalton." This print is notable in that it was the first in a series of engravings made from American paintings that were distributed among the Apollo Association member. The image also appeared on Confederate banknotes issued in 1861 by South Carolina. The original painting by White is now in the collection of the US Senate.

American

ink on paper

20" x 22"

Gift of Mrs. Alletta Morris McBean and Mrs. Elizabeth Morris Smith, 1980.

PSNC.3553