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People of the Revolutionary War | Patriots of the American Revolution | Paul Revere
Paul Revere (1735-1818)
> The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere
c. 1768-70
Oil on canvas
35 x 28 1/2 in. (88.9 x 72.3 cm)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Text from "Sister Wendy's American
Masterpieces":
"The year 1768 was an important one for two young Bostonians: John
Singleton Copley, who painted this picture, and Paul Revere, who sat for
it. They were both in their early thirties, and they could not have been
more different. This was a time of extreme political tension, when Boston
was divided into Whigs, who wanted freedom, and Tories, who were content
to stay British. Paul Revere was deeply political - and 100 percent Whig.
Copley, on the other hand, was completely uninterested in politics; he
wanted only to be neutral, which was not possible. He was about to marry
into one of the leading Tory families, the Clarkes (owners of the
notorious tea concession). Copley was performing a balancing act, but this
was the year when he wrote that he felt he must leave America and go to
live in England. There he could be an artist and a gentleman - while
silversmith Paul Revere was happy to be a craftsman.
"It was costly to have one's portrait painted, and very unusual to
be painted without a gentleman's coat. Revere's descendants misunderstood
this picture. They thought it made him look like a workman, and they hid
it in the attic, but Revere is wearing an elaborate vest with gold
buttons. The great expanse of bare sleeve - a fullness of flowing linen -
makes a political statement. There was supposed to be no linen in America
unless it was imported. The ladies of Boston objected to this, and in this
very year they produced a hundred ells (about 125 yards) of linen. Revere
is honoring this act of defiance, sporting a symbol of his country's
freedom. The problem is the teapot, because tea was a burning issue. Only
the Tories drank tea; the Whigs drank "Boston Tea," which was
punch. Why does Revere hold a teapot? Is Copley deliberately trying to
balance the Whiggish sleeve? Or was it Revere's own choice - to show off
his skills as a silversmith? I see this picture as almost a confrontation
between the two young men. Looking at Revere's solid, brooding face, I am
not surprised that he won. Copley signed the portrait, but in letters so
minuscule that hardly anyone could read them."
Paul Revere House
Built around 1680, this house is the oldest building in downtown
Boston, and served as the home of patriot/silversmith from 1770 to 1800.
Revere left here for his famous midnight ride. Located at 19 North
Square. This site is owned and operated by The Paul Revere Memorial
Association. Hours: April 15th to October 31st, 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.,
and November 1st to April 14th, 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Open daily except
Thanksgiving, Dec 25 and Jan 1, and Mondays, January through March.
Admission: Adults $2.50, Seniors age 62+ and college students w/ID $2.
Children 5-17 $1. Under age 5, free. Partially handicap accessible. For
more information call (617) 523-2338. Website www.paulreverehouse.org
British general Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in the American Revolution
Credit: Moran, Percy, artist. "Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga." c1911. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
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