Artist/Maker Benjamin Tappan (1773 - 1857)

Thomas Allen (1743–1810)

1793

Gray wash and graphite on beige paper

Sheet: 12 5/8 x 7 3/4 in. ( 32.1 x 19.7 cm )

Gift of John K. Wright, 1945

Z.2468

This profile portrait of Thomas Allen is one of about two dozen found among the papers of Benjamin Tappan, great-grandfather of the donor. Allen was a native of Massachusetts, as was Tappan. He was the first minister of Pittsfield, Mass., and a chaplain during the American Revolution.

DescriptionSilhouette: Life-size (?) right-facing profile of male subject; ink wash within graphite outline on cream paper with handwritten inscription below.

InscribedInscribed at lower center in brown ink: "Thomas Allen Esqr Lanesborough / -- 1793"

ClassificationsDRAWINGS