Joel Barlow
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
NPG.71.54
Tags
Art Historical Context
This print portrait, created around 1793 by French artist Gilles-Louis Chrétien, depicts Joel Barlow, a versatile American figure recognized as a poet, writer, journalist, lawyer, and minister. Produced during a period of intense political and cultural exchange between Europe and the young United States, the work serves as a visual record of Barlow’s presence in international circles. Chrétien specialized in printmaking techniques that captured precise likenesses, allowing portraits to reach broader audiences beyond the original sitter. As a medium, prints like this one played a key role in d...