Patrick Lyon
c. 1800
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
S/NPG.97.164
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 19th century, engraver James Akin captured a poignant moment of injustice in his print *Patrick Lyon* (c. 1800). Lyon, a skilled Philadelphia locksmith and blacksmith, is depicted as a sturdy mechanic amid his prison cell, surrounded by tools of his trade and possibly a map evoking his hometown. Akin's meticulous line work in this portrait print highlights Lyon's dignified resolve, transforming a personal ordeal into a symbol of resilience. Lyon's story gripped the nation: in 1798, he was falsely accused of robbing the Bank of Pennsylvania and imprisoned for nearly eight months w...