Item 159: Engraving of “The Death of General Wolfe” by Benjamin West and Alessandro Zaffonato (2 copies) (Removed to Black Case #8), 1771; [ca. 1771-1773]
Item — Box: 21, Folder: 159
Dates
- Created: 1771; [ca. 1771-1773]
Creator
- West, Benjamin, 1738 – 1820 (Person)
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Condition Note:
Good.
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
18 ⅛ in. x 14 ½ in.
Measurements:
18 ⅛ in. x 14 ½ in.
Title:
Mort du Général Wolfe à la bataille de Quebeck dans l’Amerique Septentrionale le 13 7bre 1759
Description:
An engraving of General Wolfe’s death with other soldiers surrounding him as the battle continues on in the distance. This engraving was created by Alessandro Zaffonato after Benjamin West.
Born on October 10, 1738, Benjamin West was a British-American artist. He is best known for painting historical scenes, for example, The Death of Nelson, The Death of General Wolfe, the Treaty of Paris, and Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky. As an artist, he was self-taught and settled in London. He is credited with the launch of the Royal Academy after catching the eye of King George III. He became the second president, after Sir Joshua Reynolds and was also given the opportunity to be the historical painter of the court as well as Surveyor of the King’s Pictures. He died on March 11, 1820.
Active in 1730, Alessandro Zaffonato was of Italian descent and an engraver during the later Baroque period. He engraved plates such as Raphael's Judgment of Solomon and others.
The original piece by West was created in 1771, entitled “The Death of General Wolfe.” The date has been ascertained by comparisons with other manuscripts, such as the one digitized on the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
The date for the Zaffonato manuscript has been ascertained by a comparison with a like print digitized on the Hollis for Archival Discovery’s webpage. The original listing by Hollis states the ranges as circa 1759-1773, however, Zaffonato has worked from a manuscript after West, reducing the ranges for this piece to circa 1771-1773, as seen by West’s manuscripts on the Gilder Lehrman Instititue’s page.
Dates: 1771; 1771-1773 13 September 1759.
Location:
Quebec, Canada
Transcription:
inventé par B. West gravée par A. Zaffonato
Mort Du Général Wolfe à la bataille de Quebeck dans l’Amerique Septentrionale le 13 7bre 1759.
Translation:
created by B. West engraved by A. Zaffonato
Death of General Wolfe of the battle of Quebec in North America, 17 September 1759.
Creator
- West, Benjamin, 1738 – 1820 (Person)
- Zaffonato, Alessandro, active 1730 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu