Captain James Lawrence for Martin N. Hulick

Period1817

MediumPen, ink and watercolor on paper

Dimensions6.75 × 9.13 in. (17.1 × 23.2 cm)

InscribedThe work is inscribed along the bottom "Capt. James Lawrence for Martin N. Hulick 1817."

ClassificationsPortraits

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1934

Object number700

DescriptionCaptain James Lawrence is depicted in three quarter view, bust length, in his Naval uniform of dark blue with buff collar, lapel, and facings, fringed epaulets on his shoulders, banded buttonholes, and a glimpse of a ruffled shirt front below a dark stock and white shirt collar points at his jawline. A leaf and scroll border is worked along the left, top, and right edges, with smaller leafy sprigs and stylized flower blossoms within. Below the portrait is a rectangular band, bordered by thin inked lines, the inscription "Capt. James Lawrence for Martin N. Hulick 1817."
Curatorial RemarksThis skillfully and carefully drawn decorative portrait was most likely created by a penmanship instructor as a reward or prize for ten-year-old Martin Nevius Gulick. The unknown artist based the image of Captain James Lawrence on a print source, itself based upon an original oil painting by artist Gilbert Stuart (1755 - 1828) made in about 1812. Several print versions of Stuart's work are known to exist. One such image appeared in a popular American magazine titled The Port Folio first published weekly and described as "Devoted to Useful Science, the Liberal Arts, Legitimate Criticism, and Polite Literature." The Port Folio first began weekly publication in January of 1801, changing to a monthly format in 1809 until it folded in1827. It may be that the unknown artist used the Lawrence print in the Port Folio magazine as inspiration. Handwriting, penmanship, and calligraphy were all taught in boarding academies and day schools as part of the basic course of study. Many schools employed professionally trained penmanship instructors, who would often create small tokens, awards, and prizes for their students. The complexity and detail of the portrait of Captain James Lawrence, along with the elegant scroll and leafwork, flowers, and inscribed border, reveals the artistic prowess of its creator.NotesThis bold and accomplished portrait of Captain James Lawrence was apparently made for Martin N. Gulick. Martin Nevius Gulick was born on 3 February 1807, the son of Jacob Gulick (1768 - 1833) and Sarah Martin Nevius (1781 - 1839), in Somerset County, New Jersey. Gulick married Martha Voorhees (1814 - 1900). Gulick was listed as a farmer in both the 1850 and 1860 federal census. Martin Gulick would have been about ten years old when he received this portrait of Naval officer James Lawrence, most likely from a teacher or penmanship instructor in the school which Gulick attended. Martin N. Gulick died on 6 February 1862 at the age of 55. The central figure in this charming artwork is Naval officer and New Jersey resident Captain James Lawrence. Lawrence was born on 1 October 1781 in Burlington, New Jersey and grew up in Woodbury, New Jersey. During the War of 1812, he commanded the USS Chesapeake and was fatally wounded during single-ship action against the British vessel HMS Shannon, commanded by Phillip Blake. After being shot while on deck, Lawrence was carried below where he uttered his famous exhortation "Don't give up the ship!" The British crew swarmed the Chesapeake, declared the battle over, and sailed both vessels to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Lawrence died en route. Although Lawrence's decisions both before and during the battle directly resulted in defeat, his final words were used by the Navy as its rallying cry for years afterwards. The ink and watercolor work is inscribed "Hulick," an early variation on the Gulick family name.

Collections