An oil portrait of a man facing the proper left in a green coat, yellow waistcoat and white cra…

Henry McAlpin

Artist John Wesley Jarvis (American, 1780 - 1840)

Sitter Henry McAlpin (American, 1780 - 1851)

Datec. 1820 - 1822

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsSight: 30 1/8 × 25 1/8 inches (76.5 × 63.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of Sallie M. McAlpin.

Object number1954.13.1

On View

On view

CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextIn 1814, Henry McAlpin (1780–1851) founded the Hermitage Plantation along the Savannah River where he enslaved 172 laborers to cultivate rice. However, by the 1820s, the plantation became better known for its railway and the industrial production of lumber, iron, and, most notably, brick. Referred to as “Savannah Grays,” the bricks were handcrafted by the immense enslaved workforce and were used to rebuild much of the city of Savannah after the fire of 1820. In this portrait, McAlpin is pictured as an elite gentleman, gazing directly towards the viewer and wearing a formal black coat, his starched cotton jabot peaking from underneath the pleated yellow vest. This display may not seem flamboyant to a modern eye, but bold or bright colors, along with an abundance of cotton material, implied the vast wealth Henry had accumulated to afford imported luxury goods from Europe in the early 19th century. - Label text written by historical interpreter, Kate Lacivita

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