A rare Revolutionary War-era drawing may be the first known depiction of the role of colonial women in the Revolutionary War – and it has been found hanging in a Big Apple apartment.
The 1777 drawing by Pierre Eugène du Simitiere, the Swiss artist known for painting the first known portrait of George Washington, was discovered in the apartment of an amateur collector by the curator of the Museum of the American Revolution, reported the Washington Post.
“My heart was pounding,” curator Matthew Skic told the outlet. “One of the soldiers wore a distinctive American garment called a hunting shirt. It was a typical Continental Army garment worn by American soldiers. »
The pen and ink sketch in Judith Hernstadt’s house shows soldiers walking or riding next to a horse-drawn wagon filled with supplies – with two women and a baby sitting inside.
This made this rare work of art a historical gem – it was the oldest known drawing of “camp followers”, or the wives and daughters who accompanied the troops to help with cooking and other tasks.
“I could see Matthew was excited,” Hernstadt said. “I was just happy that he appreciated the artwork. This has always been one of my favorites.
She said she picked up the 15 x 5 inch drawing again 40 years ago.
After some detective work, Skic identified du Simitière as the artist and searched historical clips to learn that he depicted North Carolina troops marching through Philadelphia.
Excited by the discovery, Hernstadt agreed to have the drawing displayed at the Museum of the American Revolution and will be present when it is revealed later this week, the Post said.
New York Post
