(American, 19th Century)
Constitution and Guerriere
Watercolor on paper, 22 x 17 inches
Inscribed: (in ink at center) “The last of the engagement, drawn by J.L.Keffer,/ as described by G. NEWMAN, Gunner, U.S.N., who/ was on board the Constitution,at the time.”; “CONSTITUTION./AND/GUERRIERE.”
Provenance: Honorable Samuel W. Pennypacker, 23rd Governor of Pennsylvania; Davis and Harvey Sale, November 26-27, 1907; Channing Hare (Palm Beach artist); Sotheby’s, Parke-Bernet Sale #3134, Dec 11-12 1970; Kennedy Galleries
J. L. Keffer worked with the Philadelphia lithographer P. S. Duval in 1839. He also worked with chromolithographer Alphonse Brett around 1846 in the partnership Brett & Keffer, which issued Christmas and Valentine’s Day cards delineated by engraver Nicholson Devereaux, including one held in the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Their partnership dissolved by mutual consent by 1847.
The Constitution and Guerrier depicts the USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere, a single ship action during the War of 1812, approximately 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took place shortly after war had broken out and the Constitution defeated the Guerriere, providing an important victory for American morale.
This original watercolor came from the extraordinary collection of the Honorable Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker, the 23rd governor of Pennsylvania. His collection encompassed over 10,000 items relating to Pennsylvania history. Pennypacker was later president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. It later belonged to Channing Hare an artist living and working in Palm Beach Florida who studied under George Bellows and Robert Henri. Hare was known as a portrait painter and commanded top prices during the height of his career.
About the Artist
(American, 19th Century)
J. L. Keffer was active in the 19th Century and worked with the Philadelphia lithographer P. S. Duval in 1839. He also worked with chromolithographer Alphonse Brett around 1846 in the partnership Brett & Keffer, which issued Christmas and Valentine’s Day cards delineated by engraver Nicholson Devereaux, including one held in the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Their partnership dissolved by mutual consent by 1847.
