Capt. John Paul Jones
England, circa 1780 — Frame: 8¼ x 5½ inches
 
An English engraving presenting a well-known “fictitious portrait” of John Paul Jones, the celebrated naval hero of the American Revolutionary War. Though not drawn from life, such imaginative likenesses were common in the period, reflecting both the demand for heroic imagery and the transatlantic fascination with Jones’s exploits.
 
The composition references his most storied engagement—the battle of September 23, 1779—between his command, the Bonhomme Richard, a refitted merchant vessel, and the British warship Serapis. This dramatic victory secured Jones’s reputation as one of the foremost naval figures of the conflict, immortalized in contemporary prints that circulated widely in both Britain and Europe.
 
Examples of this type occupy an important place within Revolutionary War iconography, blending fact and invention to shape the visual legacy of American independence.
 
Provenance: Ex. Sumpter Priddy.