His Excellency Oliver Wolcott, Governor of the State of Connecticut

Art Historical Context

Behold *His Excellency Oliver Wolcott, of the State of Connecticut (1820), a detailed engraving that captures the dignified likeness of one of early America's prominent leaders. Created by master engraver Asher B., likely after a painting by portraitist Thomas Sully, this print honors Oliver Wolcott Jr., who served as Connecticut's governor from 181 to 1827. 12 11/16 x 10 inches on the plate, it exemplifies the precision of 19th-century printmaking, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department—a gift from Mrs. Frederic F. Durand in 1930. Engravings like this were vital in an era before photography, allowing portraits of esteemed figures such as governors to be widely reproduced and distributed. Wolcott, a Federalist statesman and son of a Revolutionary War hero and signer of the Declaration of Independence, symbolized stability and prestige in the young republic. Durand's technique—using a burin to incise intricate lines into a metal plate—produces rich tonal contrasts and lifelike textures, from the governor's formal attire to his resolute expression. This work highlights the intersection of politics and art in post-Revolutionary America, offering visitors a window into the era's veneration of leadership through accessible visual culture. A testament to enduring craftsmanship, it invites reflection on how prints democratized portraiture for the public.

About the Artist

Asher Brown Durand|Thomas Sully|Oliver Wolcott, Jr. · 1796–1886

Was a principal member of the Hudson River School. American artist; associated with the Hudson River School of landscape painting. Comment on works: Portraits