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The Last Moments of John Brown

Thomas Hovenden American, born Ireland
1882–84
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 762
In 1859 John Brown, the controversial abolitionist, led a raid on a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), intending to arm enslaved Black Americans. Brown believed that the end of slavery in America was only possible through bloodshed. Captured and convicted of treason, Brown was sentenced to die by hanging. His hasty trial electrified the nation, and a sensational newspaper account reported how he paused on his way to the scaffold to kiss a baby. Two decades later, Hovenden, also an abolitionist, painted this sympathetic work at the request of a patron.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Last Moments of John Brown
  • Artist: Thomas Hovenden (American (born Ireland), Dunmanway 1840–1895 Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania)
  • Date: 1882–84
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 77 3/8 x 66 1/4 in. (196.5 x 168.3 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stoeckel, 1897
  • Object Number: 97.5
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

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The Village Blacksmith, Thomas Hovenden American, born Ireland, Graphite on off-white wove paper, American
The Village Blacksmith
Thomas Hovenden
ca. 1885
Study for "John Brown in Prison", Thomas Hovenden American, born Ireland, Graphite and chinese white on tan paper, American
Study for "John Brown in Prison"
Thomas Hovenden
ca. 1884
Jerusalem the Golden, Thomas Hovenden American, born Ireland, Oil on canvas, American
Jerusalem the Golden
Thomas Hovenden
1892–94
Study of two female figures, Thomas Hovenden American, born Ireland, Graphite on tan wove paper, American
Study of two female figures
Thomas Hovenden
Standing Woman, Thomas Hovenden American, born Ireland, Graphite and gouache watercolor on blue wove paper, American
Standing Woman
Thomas Hovenden
ca. 1881–82

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