Esek Hopkins — Commandant en Chef de la Flotte Américaine
Engraved by Dupin
Paris, late 18th century
Frame: 9½ x 7⅛ inches; sight: 7¾ x 5½ inches
 
An engraved portrait of Esek Hopkins, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy, presented within an oval medallion framed by martial and patriotic emblems. The surrounding composition incorporates banners bearing Revolutionary slogans including “Don’t Tread Upon Me” and “Liberty or Death,” together with naval and military trophies—imagery reflecting the fervor and symbolism associated with the American struggle for independence.
 
Hopkins, a Rhode Island merchant captain and the elder brother of Stephen Hopkins, was appointed by the Continental Congress in 1775 as the first commander of the newly established Continental Navy. European engravings such as this example attest to the considerable interest in the American cause abroad, particularly in France, where Revolutionary leaders and symbols of American resistance were widely circulated in print.
 
Condition: Overall excellent with nice margins; pronounced diagonal fold line visible.