Item 160: Engraving of “Der General Wolfe,” Illustrated by Benjamin West; Engraved by Carl Gottlieb Guttenberg (removed to Print Box #3), ca. 1759
Item — Box: 21, Folder: 160
Dates
- Created: ca. 1759
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
Type of Material:
Engraving
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
9 ½ in. x 12 ½ in.
Title:
Der General Wolfe
Description:
An engraving of General Wolfe’s death with other soldiers surrounding him as the battle continues on in the distance. “During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), British General James Wolfe captured Quebec, the key to wresting control of Canada from the French. But in the September 1769 battle, Wolfe, and his french counterpart, Montcalm, were both mortally wounded.
Benjamin West (1738-1820), a favorite painter of King George III, drew the most famous version of the death scene, but it was widely copied.
Directly above Wolfe, with his chin virtually resting on Wolfe’s head, is Isaac Barre, an English army officer who, in the same battle, received a severe bullet wound to the right cheek which blinded his right eye. Barre later returned to England and entered Parliament in 1761.”
This piece was also engraved by Carl Gottlieb Guttenburg.
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.
Carl Gottlieb Guttenburg, also referred to as Carl-Gottlieb or Carl Gottfried, was born near Nuremberg on August 21, 1743. He was a German draftsman and engraver who trained in Nuremberg and Bern. In 1767 he traveled to Paris and studied under Jean Georges Wille. He continued a career there in producing portraits, calligraphy, and illustrations. He died May 20, 1790.
James Wolfe was a British Army officer born January 2, 1727. He was known for his training reforms as well as his victory over the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec in 1759. He took part in the suppression of the Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland and Flanders. This caught the attention of his superiors, but his career advancement was halted by the Peace Treaty of 1748. He was a brigade major at the age of 18 and a lieutenant-colonel by 23. Wolfe died in battle at the Siege of Quebec on September 13, 1759.
Isaac Barré was born on October 15, 1726 and was an Anglo-Irish politician and soldier. “He earned distinction serving with the British Army during the Seven Years' War and later became a prominent Member of Parliament, where he was a vocal supporter of William Pitt.” He coined the term “Sons of Liberty” that referred to American colonists who opposed the British government. He died on July 20, 1802.
Location:
Quebec
Transcription:
Gembalt von B. West Der General Wolfe, Gegraben von Carl Guttenberg
Ober Befehlshaber (sic) [Oberbefehlshaber] des Englischen Kriegs Heeres in Nord Amerika (sic) [Nordamerika], ward in der Schlacht bei Quebeck
Den 13 September 1759 verwundet, und Starb indem er Seinen Sieg erfuhr
[illegible] a Paris chez Guttenberg Rue St. His[illegible]
Translation: Painted by B. West The General Wolfe Engraved by Carl Guttenberg Commander-in-Chief of the English War Army in North America, was wounded in the Battle of Quebec on September 13, 1759, and died experiencing his victory Printed in Paris Guttenberg Street St. His[illegible]
[illegible] a Paris chez Guttenberg Rue St. His[illegible]
Translation: Painted by B. West The General Wolfe Engraved by Carl Guttenberg Commander-in-Chief of the English War Army in North America, was wounded in the Battle of Quebec on September 13, 1759, and died experiencing his victory Printed in Paris Guttenberg Street St. His[illegible]
Creator
- West, Benjamin, 1738 – 1820 (Person)
- Gutenberg, Carl Gottlieb, 1743-1790 (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