Object Details
- Artist
- Laurent Dabos, 1761 - 1835
- Sitter
- Thomas Paine, 29 Jan 1737 - 8 Jun 1809
- Exhibition Label
- Born Thetford, England
- “We have it in our power to begin the world over again,” Thomas Paine proclaimed in Common Sense. Paine had arrived in Philadelphia from England just fourteen months earlier. Yet his pamphlet, published anonymously in January 1776, helped prepare the public for the Declaration of Independence in July. He continued to boost morale during the Revolution’s darkest days, beginning his series of Crisis essays (1776–83) with the words, “These are the times that try Men’s souls.”
- Paine’s attacks on hereditary monarchy and his declaration of liberty and equality as fundamental rights made him a hero in revolutionary France. In response to public demand for his image, this portrait was painted as a model for engravings. Returning to the United States in 1802 after fifteen years in Europe, Paine found that The Age of Reason (1794–1807)—his assault on traditional religion— had cost him friends and public support.
- Nacido en Thetford, Inglaterra
- “Tenemos el poder de comenzar el mundo de nuevo”, proclamó Thomas Paine en Sentido común. Había llegado a Filadelfia desde Inglaterra apenas 14 meses antes, pero su panfleto publicado anónimamente en enero de 1776 ayudó a preparar al público para la Declaración de Independencia en julio. Paine dio ánimos al pueblo en los días más sombríos de la revolución. Su serie de ensayos La crisis americana (1776–83) comienza así: “Estos son los tiempos que ponen a prueba el alma de los hombres”.
- Los ataques de Paine a la monarquía hereditaria y su afirmación de que la libertad y la igualdad son derechos fundamentales lo convirtieron en héroe de la Francia revolucionaria. Ante la demanda de alguna imagen de él, este retrato sirvió de modelo para los grabados. De regreso a EE.UU. en 1802, tras 15 años en Europa, Paine descubrió que La edad de la razón (1794–1807), su ataque a la religión tradicional, le había costado amistades y el apoyo público.
- Provenance
- (Salamander Fine Arts, London); purchased 2008 NPG
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- c. 1792
- Object number
- NPG.2008.5
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- Stretcher: 34 x 26cm (13 3/8 x 10 1/4")
- Frame: 50.8 x 43.5cm (20 x 17 1/8")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
- Thomas Paine: Male
- Thomas Paine: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
- Thomas Paine: Politics and Government\Statesman
- Thomas Paine: Arts and Culture\Journalism and Media\Magazine editor
- Thomas Paine: Science and Technology\Inventor
- Thomas Paine: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Humanitarian
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2008.5
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm451eaf867-0e65-4f8a-99b8-e3a48607c7b7
