James Fenimore Cooper
1870s
James Fenimore Cooper stares out with a serious, almost brooding intensity in this classic portrait, sporting the high collar and cravat of a 19th-century literary giant. Originally drawn by the prolific illustrator F.O.C. Darley and expertly engraved by W.G. Marshall, this image likely served as a frontispiece for novels published by D. Appleton & Co. It’s a perfect snapshot of the man who essentially invented the American frontier adventure story, giving readers a dignified face to associate with The Last of the Mohicans.
- Technique
- Steel engraving