Banknote motifs: the number 5 and a portrait of Thayendanegea

ca. 1824–37

Not on view

This portrait of the Mohawk chief Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) was created to adorn banknotes engraved by A. B. C. Durand & Co. Small proofs like this were used to design notes for individual banks (American paper currency was printed by various private companies until 1869 and standarized designs for notes introduced only in 1929). Political and military leaders were often portrayed, but the choice of Thayendanego is unusual since he fought for the British during the Revolutionary War. After 1781, he devoted himself to negotiating rights for his people and led 2,000 followers to establish the Six Nations Reserve in Upper Canada (now Brandtford, Ontario) in 1785. This engraved image reproduces a portrait made at Albany in 1806, one year before the sitter's death. Not expecting to be painted, Thayendangea arrived in a European-style suit and only agreed to sit when native attire was found.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Banknote motifs: the number 5 and a portrait of Thayendanegea
Artist: Attributed to Asher Brown Durand (American, Jefferson, New Jersey 1796–1886 Maplewood, New Jersey)
Artist: Associated with Cyrus Durand (American, 1787–1868)
Artist: Portrait after Ezra Ames (American, Framingham, Massachusetts 1768–1836 Albany, New York)
Printer: A. B. & C. Durand & Company (American, active 1824–32)
Printer: Durand, Perkins, and Company (New York)
Sitter: Thayendanegea (Joseph Brandt) (Mohawk, 1743–1807)
Date: ca. 1824–37
Medium: Engraving and etching; proof
Dimensions: sheet: 2 15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (7.5 x 3.7 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Joseph Veach Noble, 2002
Object Number: 2002.333.19
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Powder Horn, Horn (cow), lead, American — Powder Horn
American
18th century

Mrs. Abington as Thalia, Francesco Bartolozzi Italian, Stipple engraving and etching; working proof, printed in brown ink — Mrs. Abington as Thalia
Multiple artists/makers
1783

Off to War (Henderson Ledger Artist B), Frank Henderson Native American, Pencil, colored pencil, and ink on paper, Arapaho — Off to War (Henderson Ledger Artist B)
Frank Henderson
ca. 1882

Banknote vignette with three putti symbolizing trade and agriculture, Asher Brown Durand American, Engraving and etching; proof — Banknote vignette with three putti symbolizing trade and agriculture
Attributed to Asher Brown Durand
Printer A. B. & C. Durand & Company
Printer Durand, Perkins, and Company
ca. 1824–37

Man and Two Women (Henderson Ledger Artist B), Frank Henderson Native American, Pencil, colored pencil, and ink on paper, Arapaho — Man and Two Women (Henderson Ledger Artist B)
Frank Henderson
ca. 1882

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.