Eighteenth-century writers seemed uncertain how best to describe Britain’s relation to its many overseas possessions. Only tepidly did they employ the concept of empire
since for them it carried uncomfortable baggage from ancient history. The traditional usage suggested that control over distant colonies and expansion into new regions depended on military might. But the notion that Great Britain was a modern-day Rome, dispatching powerful legions to conquer the world, did not sit well with a people who celebrated liberty and rights, the blessings of living under a balanced constitution.
John Vanderlyn (1775—1852)
Oil on Canvas; 25 1/4 x 20 7/8 in. (64.1 x 53 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.
Oil on canvas; 36 7/8 x 28 1/8 in. (93.7 x 71.4 cm) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.
Oil on canvas. New-York Historical Society, New York, NY.
Oil on canvas. New York Historical Society, New York, NY.
Daughter (1783—1813) of Aaron Burr.
Oil on wood panel; 10 x 8 in ( 25.4 x 20.3 cm). New-York Historical Society, New York, NY.
Oil on canvas; 46 1/4 x 35 1/4 in ( 117.5 x 89.5 cm). New-York Historical Society, New York, NY.
Oil on canvas. The White House Collection, Washington, DC.
Oil on canvas. The White House Historical Collection, White House Blue Room, Washington, DC.
Oil on canvas. National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian), Washington, DC.
The Marketplace of the Revolution (2004)