"Liberty In the Form of the Goddess of Youth Giving Support to the Bald Eagle" Stipple Engraving by Edward Savage, 1796

Presented is a rare stipple engraving of “Liberty. In the form of the Goddess of Youth giving Support to the Bald Eagle.” This engraving was drawn, engraved, and published by Edward Savage, in Philadelphia in 1796. It was based on his earlier oil-on-canvas paintings of the same subject, no longer extant. 

The engraving is a potent symbol of the triumph of American liberty over British tyranny, published following the end of the American Revolution. At center, Liberty, in the form of the goddess of youth Hebe, offers a nourishing sustenance from her goblet to a spreadwing bald eagle, a symbol of the United States. Liberty is dressed in a flowing white dress, adorned with a garland of flowers draped over her body and a crown of flowers tucked into her hair. Liberty tramples symbolic implements of royal tyranny with her foot, including the British Star of the Order of the Garter and the key to the French Bastille prison. A broken scepter also lays amidst rocks and rubble on the ground. The new 13-star American flag emerges from smoke and the clouds of war in the background; the flag is held aloft on a pole topped with a liberty cap. Along the horizon, Boston Harbor is accented with lightning bolts, with British ships fleeing the harbor. 

Savage's “Liberty. In the form of the Goddess of Youth giving Support to the Bald Eagle” was an iconic image in early American culture, so successful that it begot many imitations in other media both in the United States and abroad, including school girl embroideries, naive watercolors, and sophisticated Chinese import reverse glass paintings. The 1796 “Liberty” engraving itself is considered rare, with impressions held by the Library of Congress, Winterthur Museum, Yale Art Gallery, the Gilcrease Museum, and Worcester Art Museum, but only two impressions found previously listed for sale by other dealers. 

Edward Savage (1761-1817) was an American portrait painter and engraver born in Massachusetts. By 1780, Savage was working on commissions for buyers in Boston, mostly producing engravings of works by John Singleton Copley. Although not classically trained, Savage came to prominence in his depiction of George Washington of 1789, which was intended as a gift to Harvard University. This early connection to Washington defined Savage's career. He painted at least seven portraits of Washington and two of Martha Washington in his lifetime. Savage also produced the only contemporary work that depicted Washington at his home estate Mount Vernon, entitled “The Washington Family.” 

CONDITION:

Good condition. Stipple engraving on wove paper. Paper with toning, water stains at bottom, small stains lower left, repaired tear in right margin, thin spots, printing creases, light foxing, white accretion at top of image. Plate Dimensions: 24 5/8” H x 14 3/4” W in. Sheet Dimensions: 25 3/8” H x 16 1/2” W. 

Archivally framed in a black wooden frame with gilt spandrel, acid-free mats and backing, and UV Conservation clear glass.

Framed Dimensions: 31 3/4" H x 22 1/4" W x 3/4" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.