Congress Voting for the Declaration of Independence

Robert Edge Pine & Edward Savage (1761-1817)

Congress Voting for the Declaration of Independence

Medium:  Unfinished stipple engraving printed on hand laid paper

Dimensions:  18 3/4 x 25 3/8”

1788

Robert Edge Pine and Edward Savage- Robert Edge Pine was an English Artist who came to the United States in 1783.  He was most famous for his paintings of historical events and portraits.  Pine died in 1788 leaving his painting “Congress Voting Independence” unfinished.  Edward Savage was an American goldsmith, engraver, and artist who obtained and finished Pine’s painting.  Savage began work on an engraving of this painting, but died before it was completed.  This print is one of the rare few made off the unfinished plate.  This engraving is showing one of the most important moments in out nation’s history: our founding fathers declaring independence from British rule. 

As stated on the Library of Congress website, “Edward Savage's engraving, based on Robert Edge Pine's painting of the presentation of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress, is considered one of the most realistic renditions of this historic event.”