The Boston Massacre, or, The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street, Boston on March 5, 1770 by a party of the 29th Regiment

Artist and publisher Engraved, printed and sold by Paul Revere Jr. American
After Henry Pelham American
1770
Not on view
The Bostonian silversmith-engraver Revere made this print in response to a violent confrontation between local residents and British troops on March 5, 1770. With two thousand soldiers billeted in the city to enforce the collection of taxes on imported goods such as tea, tensions grew and skirmishes became commonplace. On the night in question, Americans threw stones and ice balls at a lone guard stationed outside the Custom House. Reinforcements were called, a tense standoff ensued, and rifles eventually fired. Crispus Attucks, a multiracial dockworker shown here in the foreground, was among the five fallen Americans. Issued on March 26, Revere’s image casts the British as instigators and callous executioners. Often copied and widely distributed, it helped push the colony toward revolution.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Boston Massacre, or, The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street, Boston on March 5, 1770 by a party of the 29th Regiment
  • Artist and publisher: Engraved, printed and sold by Paul Revere Jr. (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1734–1818 Boston, Massachusetts)
  • Artist: After Henry Pelham (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1749–1806 Dublin)
  • Date: 1770
  • Medium: Hand-colored engraving and etching; second state
  • Dimensions: Image: 10 1/4 × 9 1/8 in. (26 × 23.2 cm)
    Sheet: 11 in. × 9 9/16 in. (27.9 × 24.3 cm)
    Frame: 21 × 16 in. (53.3 × 40.6 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.125.103
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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