Focus on Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences and discuss the Background and versions.
The Library Company of Philadelphia, a private lending library founded by Benjamin Franklin in the mid-18th century, commissioned Jennings (an ex-Philadelphian relocated to London) to create a work depicting "the figure of Liberty (with her cap and proper Insignia) displaying the arts" as a representation of slavery and a symbol of the abolitionist movement. The library records the painting as having been given to it by the artist in March 1792, shortly after its completion in London.Jennings completed two versions of the painting, both virtually identical save for size and composition. The larger version is oil on canvas and held by the Library Company of Philadelphia, while the smaller and lesser known version is oil on linen and held by Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. The other major difference is that the smaller painting features the Union Jack on a shield among the symbolic objects surrounding the figure of Liberty. The smaller version was intended to serve as the basis for prints (never produced) meant for sale in Britain. The work is the earliest known anti-slavery painting by an American artist and reflect increasingly abolitionist sympathies of Philadelphia's Quaker leaders and institutions.
figure of Liberty Benjamin Franklin Union Jack Quaker lending library Library Company of Philadelphia London Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library