David Ramsay
1771
Charles Willson Peale, the artist who famously painted George Washington more times than anyone else, captured this portrait of David Ramsay in 1771. The composition uses a dark, oval background to make Ramsay's face and crisp white cravat stand out, giving him a look of serious, intellectual dignity. Ramsay would later become a prominent historian of the American Revolution, making this pre-war portrait a fascinating glimpse into his younger years before the colonies declared independence.
Views: 2