The DH has recently acquired a long sought item for our museum. Among the items listed on the invoice of the sale of Isaiah Davenport’s personal property in 1829 were the following:
1 print "D. Kollock" & 1 Dec. Independence ea./1 2.00
1 do. Surrender Cornwallis 2.00
Earlier this year, the DH purchased a period print from Black Dog Gallery in Yorktown, VA. The print and frame (described as original) underwent extensive conservation and repair but now, after 178 years, a print of the British Surrender at Yorktown once again hangs on a wall in the Davenport House.
Title: The British surrendering their arms to Gen. Washington after their defeat at Yorktown in Virginia October 1781; Date: c. 1819 January 28th
Artist: Drawn by John Francis Renault (fil 1781-1815); Engraved by Tanner, Vallance, Kearny & Co., and Wm. Allen
Summary: Print showing officers on the right, with Cornwallis presenting his sword, and French and American officers, center and left, with George Washington holding his hat in his left hand. Officers identified, from left: "Lincoln, Roachambeau, Hamilton, Washington, Knox, DeLauzen, Nelson, La Fayette, Tarleton, Cornwallis, Abercrombie, O’Hara, Symmonds, Dundas, [and] Chewton." Allegorical scene on the right, behind the British, showing discord, a female figure, wearing liberty cap and floating on clouds, sends lightening bolts to up-end and a chariot; on the left, behind American and French officers, prosperity stands next to cornucopia, with Justice and others in attendance, next to a tall pillar topped with Liberty holding staff with liberty cap.
Caption: To the defenders of American independence, this print is most respectfully inscribed by their fellow citizen, Jn. Fcis. Renault, assistant secretary to the Count de Grass, and engineer to the French Army, at the siege of York.
Entered according to Act of Congress, the 28th day of January, 1819.
Print Conservation Work: Marion Hunter, Charleston, SC.
Frame Conservation Work: The Gilders Workshop, Savannah, GA
Mounting: Bowles Fine Arts, Savannah, GA
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